Paromita Das
New Delhi, 1st December: Democracy is often described as a system that derives its strength from the smallest, most routine actions—updating voter rolls, distributing forms, and verifying identities. These are mundane tasks, far from the heat of election rallies or political speeches, yet absolutely essential to the integrity of voting. But in parts of West Bengal today, even these routine exercises have become perilous. The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, meant to ensure accuracy in electoral rolls, has turned into a landscape of intimidation, coercion, and—tragically—violence.
The recent assault in Malda’s Harishchandrapur area is not just another isolated incident; it is a sobering reminder of how political control over electoral processes can threaten ordinary citizens who are simply doing their jobs. And it raises a larger question: When the very people responsible for safeguarding democratic procedures are forced into silence or submission, what does it mean for the future of free and fair elections?
A BLO Targeted for Resisting Pressure
The attack on the husband of Booth Level Officer (BLO) Nibedita Mondal, a para-teacher engaged in the SIR exercise, has shaken public conscience. According to her complaint, the trouble began when they refused to carry out electoral form distribution and collection according to the dictates of Mohammad Kasimuddin—a local strongman, former Congress panchayat member, and now associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Nibedita describes a climate of constant threats. Kasimuddin allegedly wanted the SIR work to proceed on his terms, giving him control over who gets included or excluded from the electoral rolls. When Nibedita and her husband Kamal Mondal refused to comply, the consequences turned brutal.
In a field near Dation village, Kamal was caught alone and assaulted violently. Reports say his attacker tried to kill him by clutching his testicles with extreme force. Locals rushed in after hearing his screams and managed to pull him away, but by then the damage had been done. Kamal was taken to Harishchandrapur Rural Hospital, where his condition remains critical.
“We were constantly threatened to follow his instructions. When we refused, my husband was almost killed,” Nibedita said—words that encapsulate both fear and defiance.
The Politics Behind the Violence
The attack has sparked political controversies, with various parties trying to distance themselves from the accused. Congress leaders in the region have immediately denied any connection with Kasimuddin. Local leader Mostak Alam stated that Kasimuddin is “sheltered by the ruling TMC,” indicating that the shift in political loyalty might have facilitated his impunity.
The BJP, on the other hand, has used the incident to underline what it calls the collapse of democratic functioning under TMC rule. BJP district secretary Rupesh Agarwal stated, “The ruling party is using local criminals to intimidate BLOs and control SIR form fill-up.”
While political parties point fingers at one another, the core issue remains the same: the growing influence of local strongmen in routine electoral procedures. What should be a transparent and independent administrative process is increasingly becoming a tool for political manipulation.
Why the SIR Matters—and Why It Is Being Targeted
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is not merely a bureaucratic formality. It directly impacts:
- Voter eligibility
- Electoral fairness
- Representation in local, state, and national elections
In regions where political control is deeply intertwined with local power structures, influencing the voter list is a strategic advantage. By intimidating BLOs and pressuring them to act according to party lines, powerful groups can manipulate who gets enfranchised and who gets left out.
What is particularly alarming is that the violence is now targeted at grassroots-level workers—para-teachers, local women, contractual employees—people who are doing their jobs with little institutional protection.
A Larger Pattern of Fear in West Bengal’s Electoral Space
This incident fits into a broader pattern reported over the past several years:
- BLOs allegedly being threatened
- Opposition supporters being intimidated
- Strongmen influencing administrative activities
- Fear dictating participation in electoral processes
Whether it is panchayat elections, voter list updates, or polling day logistics, political interference has become a recurring allegation in parts of Bengal’s rural belt.
When routine democratic functions require courage to perform, the system is undoubtedly strained.
Democracy Cannot Thrive on Fear
It is easy to reduce this incident to yet another story of political violence in a politically volatile state. But doing so would trivialize a deeper concern—the erosion of procedural democracy.
If BLOs cannot work independently, if women like Nibedita are forced to choose between safety and duty, and if criminals cloak themselves under political patronage, then the foundation of electoral democracy begins to crumble.
Democracy relies not only on voting but on the credibility of every step leading up to it. If electoral rolls themselves become manipulated, the legitimacy of elections gets compromised long before a ballot is cast.
The silence of institutions is equally troubling. It raises the question: Are BLOs, the foot soldiers of the Election Commission, being adequately protected?
A Test for West Bengal’s Democratic Machinery
The assault in Malda is not just a crime; it is an attack on the democratic process itself. As the SIR exercise continues, the state must ensure that workers like Nibedita and Kamal are protected, empowered, and able to operate without fear.
Every citizen deserves a free and fair election. And that begins not at polling booths, but with the everyday, unglamorous work of updating voter lists. If that process becomes hostage to intimidation, the entire democratic structure stands on shaky ground.
West Bengal now faces a crucial test:
Will it safeguard the integrity of its electoral mechanisms, or will intimidation become the new normal?
The answer will shape not just the state’s political future, but the health of Bharatiya democracy itself.
