EVM Commissioning for Krishnagar Municipality Election at BPC Institute

EVMs for Krishnagar Municipality Election commenced today at BPC institute Krishnagar. Here are some of the glimpses.

Video clip : Booth Level Meeting at Hanskhali

This is mobile video clip showing BLA meeting in progress at 15 and 16 parts of Krishnaganj AC in Hanskhali. If one listens to the conversation carefully, it will be clear that all BLAs and DO/BLO have well understood the desired process of booth level meeting. They could list out the names of dead and shifted electors correctly. Poor quality of video is regretted as it is clicked on mobile.

District Magistrate & DEO Nadia visited Booths in Hanskhali block on Special Campaign day SRER 2008

I visited Booth Number 98, 99 of Krishnaganj and booth 15, 16 and Sylberia Primary School at Indo Bangladesh Border of Ranaghat AC in Hanskhali block area on 16.11.2008 afternoon. Here are some of the photographs and video clips of Booth Level Agents' meeting at one of the Booths. I am happy to note that BLAs, BLOs, DOs of the booth are conducting participatory roll reading sitting on the jute mates, going through every page and noting down the names and serial numbers of dead, shifted, photo mismatch etc. cases through consensus. Interesting thing to note in these photoes is Paan and supari served to BLAs which probably improves the understanding and intimacy of DOs with participants.

DOs were found present at all the booths I visited, but presence of BLAs from most of the political parties was not encouraging. EROs may better hold review meeting with political parties before next Special Campaign day on 23rd November 2008. Resolution of the meetings should be written at all the booths and copy be handed over to them. Information on dead & shifted should be verified by BLOs at door to door visit and get Form 7 filled up by family members if possible. I visited houses of several applicants who alleged that despite applying again and again their claim for inclusion are not being accepted.

Case1 : 24 years old one Shri Shankar Santra applied in Form 6 last year but rejected as because he has no ration card or proof of age. His parents are electors and resides behind the booth building. His grandfather's original passport produced is guinine. I am satisfied that rejection of his claim is unjustified.

Case2 :- Another applicant aged about 40+ years claims that his age is 31 years as per certificate issued by Primary School, but in ration card issued by GP his age is 12 years at the time of issue in 1981. He could not produce any other proof of citizen ship and age. Certificate managed by him from GP and school appeared fake to me. His claim of inclusion is not justified and liable to be rejected.

Case3. Another applicant in the same village Sylberia claims that his name was enrolled in the electoral roll in 1995 but deleted later on the ground that he is not Indian citizen. I verified the ration card, the only document available with him but could not make up opinion in his favour. Age as claimed in the application and actual is quite contrary. There are other persons also in the village, who could not enrol their names on similar reasons/ defects but suppressing the age in lower side below 25 years to get enrolment through fake documents. EROs must be cautious in disposing off such cases.

In addition I noticed that submission of two photographs with Form 8+Form 001C by non-image electors is not known to most of the DOs/ local voters. Let's create awareness so as to achieve 100 % EPIC coverage.

AEROs and EROs visited in all Blocks, which is very much appreciated.

Suggestions to SDOs/ BDOs :-

I. Supply Form 001C, declaration form and carbon paper for copying resolution of BLA meeting to all DOs.

II. Let BLO/ DO call BLAs on fixed day, where nobody turned up today and seek their cooperation.

III. EROs/ BDOs may hold meeting with political parties and tell them that their cooperation and presence in next meeting on 23rd November 2008 is solicited.

IV. Information furnished in BLAs meeting must be verified by the BLOs before 23rd November 2008 and placed in next meeting.

V. AEROs who could not visit today must do so in next 3-4 days.