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TMC Escalates Dispute Over WhatsApp Directives in Bengal Voter Roll Revision

Party leaders lodged a complaint with the state election chief after Abhishek Banerjee posted chats alleging improper instructions to micro-observers.

Overview

  • A five-member TMC delegation met West Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal, submitting a memorandum objecting to WhatsApp messages they say directed officials to reject certain documents such as panchayat-issued birth certificates.
  • Abhishek Banerjee shared purported WhatsApp screenshots naming Special Roll Observer C. Murugan and alleged efforts to inflate voter deletions and misuse roll-observer logins from a central Kolkata location.
  • The party argues these practices defy Supreme Court guidance that limits micro-observers to an assistive role while leaving inclusion or deletion decisions to Electoral Registration Officers.
  • C. Murugan denies issuing instructions and says he only clarified existing guidance, while Election Commission sources state no official orders were sent via WhatsApp after the court’s directives.
  • TMC says it will move the Supreme Court and reports the CEO has assured a look into the complaint, with no independent verification or judicial ruling on the allegations yet.