Bengal Guv Urges EC–State Govt Talks to Ease SIR Fears : CM's Claim Must Be Examined in Detail

PTI, KOLKATA, NOV 23, 2025 : On the completion of his third year in office, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Sunday reiterated his commitment to the state’s development and pledged to work towards a "violence-free, corruption-free state". He also called for meetings between the Election Commission and the state government to address public fears surrounding the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Replying to queries on reports of large crowds assembling at border points to return to Bangladesh, the governor said he would visit the areas for a "reality check" before commenting further. The Hakimpur border is currently witnessing a surge of people attempting to cross into Bangladesh, reportedly claiming they lack adequate documents amid the SIR process.

CM's Claim Must Be Examined in Detail: Bengal Guv on BLO Suicide Row

PTI, KOLKATA, NOV 23, 2025 : Amid a row over alleged suicides by BLOs during the ongoing SIR in West Bengal and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioning the exercise, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Sunday said knee-jerk reactions should be avoided and asserted that the concerns raised by the CM must be examined in detail.

His comment comes after Banerjee shared a "suicide note" of a BLO on social media on Saturday and claimed that the deceased held the Election Commission responsible for the consequences.

"In these situations, it is better to avoid knee-jerk reactions. What the Chief Minister has pointed out has to be examined in detail and in depth," Bose told reporters at Raj Bhavan. He added that the Election Commission possesses a "balanced outlook," and that "all these issues can be examined properly, and appropriate solutions found."

The Governor also stressed that free and fair elections must be ensured meticulously.

"Profoundly shocked to know of the death of yet another BLO, a lady para-teacher, who has committed suicide at Krishnanagar today. BLO of part number 201 of AC 82 Chapra, Smt. Rinku Tarafdar, has blamed ECI in her suicide note (copy is attached herewith) before committing suicide at her residence today," Banerjee had said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

The Chief Minister had on November 19 claimed that a booth-level officer, Shanti Muni Ekka, in Jalpaiguri's Mal area took her own life under the "unbearable pressure of the ongoing SIR work."