Siliguri, 14th April: Tension prevailed in Siliguri after polling personnel staged a protest alleging that their names were missing from the postal ballot list, preventing them from casting their votes. Agitated over the issue, they warned that they would refuse to perform election duties if they were denied their voting rights.
The protest took place on Tuesday at Siliguri Boys’ School, where the poll workers expressed their anger against the Election Commission. Demonstrators claimed they had submitted the necessary forms on time to cast their votes through postal ballots but later discovered that their names were not included in the final list.
According to the protesting personnel, their names appeared on the voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), yet they were excluded from the postal ballot records. This discrepancy triggered widespread resentment among them.
Upon receiving information about the incident, Vikas Ruhela, the Sub-Divisional Officer of Siliguri, rushed to the spot. He assured the protesters that there was still time to address the issue and stated that the matter was being examined.
Political leaders also arrived at the scene. Shankar Ghosh, BJP candidate from Siliguri, and Gautam Deb, Trinamool Congress candidate, met the aggrieved poll workers. Gautam Deb blamed the Election Commission for the lapse.
The incident has raised concerns over electoral preparedness ahead of the upcoming polls, with authorities expected to take corrective measures promptly.