TMC continues protests near CEO’s office over Form 6 submission irregularities

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress continued its sit-in protest near the office of the Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Wednesday over alleged irregularities in Form 6 submissions. However, the agitation that started from Monday outside the office of the state CEO on Strand Road and continued late into Tuesday night shifted a little distance away from near the entry of the CEO’s office on Strand Road from Wednesday morning.

It was found that police and central forces have virtually turned the area outside the CEO’s office into a security fortress, with barricades erected at multiple points. The CEO’s office in a post in its X handle stated that the poll body is determined not to leave any gap in ensuring free and fair elections.

The protest began with allegations that a person entered the Election Commission office carrying bags filled with Form 6 applications. The ruling party has claimed this indicates large-scale, questionable additions to the voter list. An FIR was also lodged at Hare Street Police Station against BJP workers over the alleged bulk submission of forms.

Agitated protesters questioned the administration’s response, with some saying: “We want to know what action has been taken against the person who entered with bags full of Form 6. There must be transparency and it must be ensured that no illegal voters are added to benefit any party.”

The situation had already turned tense a day earlier when TMC supporters staged a demonstration outside the CEO’s office. BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari and Samik Bhattacharya, had also visited the office to lodge complaints, leading to heated exchanges between workers of both parties. Central forces and police were deployed to bring the situation under control. The place is already under the BNS section 163.

On Wednesday, SUCI supporters also joined the protests, shaking police barricades and further escalating tensions. The twin demonstrations disrupted traffic along Strand Road, causing severe congestion in the area.

Meanwhile, the CEO’s office issued a strong statement alleging that a councillor from Beliaghata, along with “some hooligans”, gheraoed the office late on Tuesday night and raised slogans. The office issued a statement stating: “Such anti-social activities will not be tolerated and the law will take its own course.”