5 months ago
44
ARTICLE AD BOX
NEW DELHI: West Bengal main curate Mamata Banerjee connected Monday wrote to main predetermination commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising interest implicit what she described arsenic 2 “disturbing yet urgent developments” connected to the upcoming elections successful the state.
She questioned a centralised Request for Proposal issued by the main electoral serviceman (CEO) for outsourcing information unit and objected to a connection to acceptable up polling stations wrong backstage residential complexes. In the letter, Banerjee said, “I americium constrained to constitute to you regarding 2 disturbing yet urgent developments that person been brought to my notice, and which, successful my view, warrant your contiguous intervention.”
Her archetypal objection relates to what she called a “questionable RfP issued by CEO, West Bengal”. “It has precocious travel to airy that the CEO, West Bengal, has directed District Election Officers (DEOs) not to prosecute contractual information introduction operators and Bangla Sahyata Kendra (BSK) unit for SIR-related oregon different - `election-related information work. Simultaneously, the CEO's bureau has floated a Request for Proposal (RfP) for hiring 1,000 Data Entry Operators and 50 Software Developers for a play of 1 year.
This raises superior concerns.” She argued that territory offices already person capable qualified unit and are empowered to marque their ain arrangements. “When territory offices already person a important fig of competent professionals performing specified functions, what necessitates the CEO's inaugural to outsource the aforesaid enactment done an outer bureau for a afloat year? Traditionally, tract offices person ever hired their ain contractual information introduction unit arsenic per requirement.
If determination is an urgent need, DEOs are afloat empowered to undertake specified hiring themselves. Why, then, is the CEO's bureau assuming this relation connected behalf of tract offices? What substantive quality is expected successful the work conditions oregon contractual obligations betwixt those already engaged and those to beryllium hired done the projected agency? Is this workout being undertaken astatine the behest of a governmental enactment to service vested interests? The timing and mode of this RfP surely rise morganatic doubts.” On the 2nd issue, Banerjee registered beardown absorption to the thought of establishing polling stations wrong backstage lodging complexes. “It has further been brought to my attraction that the Election Commission is considering mounting up polling stations wrong backstage residential complexes, and DEOs person been asked to supply recommendations. This connection is profoundly problematic. Polling stations person ever been-and indispensable remain-located successful authorities oregon semi-government institutions, preferably wrong a 2 km radius, to guarantee accessibility and neutrality.
Private buildings are typically avoided for wide reasons: they compromise faimess, interruption established norms, and make discriminatory distinctions betwixt privileged residents and the wide public- the haves and have-nots. Why is specified a determination being contemplated astatine all? Again, is this being done nether pressure'from a governmental enactment to beforehand their partisan. interests? Why? Why? Why?” Calling the implications far-reaching, she warned, “The implications of specified a determination would person terrible interaction connected the fairness of the electoral process.” Banerjee concluded by appealing for contiguous action. “I impulse you to analyse these issues with utmost seriousness, impartiality, and transparency. It is indispensable that the dignity, neutrality, and credibility of the Commission stay supra reproach and are not compromised nether immoderate circumstances.”
