BJP Seeks Central Forces for Electoral Roll Revision After Violence at BDO Office in Bengal’s Farakka
Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly condemned a violent incident at the Block Development Officer’s (BDO) office in Farakka, Murshidabad district, alleging a complete breakdown of law and order in West Bengal. The party has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to deploy central paramilitary forces to ensure the smooth conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Mob Attack Disrupts Electoral Process
The violence erupted on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, when a large group of protesters forcibly entered the BDO office, which also houses the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO). According to BJP leaders, the mob was allegedly led by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Monirul Islam and was protesting against the ongoing SIR exercise.
The demonstrators reportedly accused election officials of harassing voters by summoning them for hearings over minor clerical discrepancies in voter application forms. The protest soon turned violent, with the crowd vandalising office property and ransacking the ERO’s chamber, forcing officials to suspend voter list hearings.
Observers Withdraw Citing Security Concerns
The incident has caused alarm among election personnel. As many as 55 micro-observers assigned to oversee the SIR process have submitted a written protest to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal. In their communication, they cited serious lapses in security and expressed fear for their personal safety, leading them to withdraw from duty.
Police have so far arrested two individuals in connection with the incident. An FIR has been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984.
BJP Alleges Attempt to Undermine Electoral Transparency
Senior BJP leaders have accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of attempting to derail the electoral roll revision exercise through intimidation and violence.
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya described the incident as a “murderous attack” on constitutional authorities in a post on social media platform X. Holding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responsible, Malviya said violence and coercion cannot be allowed to compromise the integrity of elections. He demanded accountability across the administrative hierarchy, from the Director General of Police to district-level officers.
Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, also condemned the attack, noting that two officials were injured during the assault. He alleged that the TMC government was deliberately attempting to weaken the SIR process to manipulate voter lists. Adhikari formally appealed to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to invoke Article 324 of the Constitution, seek direct oversight of the revision exercise, and deploy central forces to protect election officials.
Uncertainty Over SIR Resumption
Despite preliminary arrests by state police, the SIR process in the Farakka constituency remains disrupted. The Election Commission has not yet issued an official response on whether additional security arrangements or central intervention will be approved to resume and complete the electoral roll revision.
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