By Admin 
Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday expressed concern over the deployment of contractual employees on duty on the day of counting in Pingla and Daspur assembly constituencies. He accused TMC of manipulating the mandate and sought intervention from the Election Commission.
Questions raised on appointment of contract workers for counting of votes
In a post, the officer wrote, “Is the future of democracy being handed over to contract employees? This is a matter of serious concern and a direct attack on the sanctity of the democratic process. I am shocked to see the counting orders issued for 227-Pingla AC and 230-Daspur AC, where a large number of contractual and temporary employees have been deployed for the counting operations.” He has raised questions on the deployment of civil servants, assistants and contractual polling officers for counting of votes.
The BJP leader raised questions that how can the responsibility of sensitive tasks like handling of EVMs, VVPATs and postal ballots be handed over to Jibika Sevaks and assistants? These posts are naturally sensitive to political pressure. The orders show how much reliance is being placed on temporary workers for critical roles.
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‘Government employees should be included in vote counting’
He further said that contractual employees like Pingla AC (227), Bipalendu Bera (JS), Shankar Pahari (JS) and Naba Kumar Apik (BLS) are included in the counting teams. Even employees like BLAA are engaged in ‘reserve tagging’. The EVM movement and even the sealing of EVMs/VVPATs is fueled by assistants, VLEs and contractual DEOs. Suvendu Adhikari has asked the Election Commission to ensure that regular government employees are included in the counting of votes to be held on May 4.
Demand for intervention from Chief Election Commissioner
He wrote, “The Chief Election Commissioner and the Chief Electoral Officer West Bengal should immediately intervene to amend these orders and ensure that only permanent, regular government employees are involved in the counting process, thereby maintaining impartiality.” He further said that the Election Commission should take action to stop the contractualisation of democracy. We will not allow the people’s mandate to be tampered with by those whose jobs depend on the arbitrariness of the ruling party.
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