Row Erupts Before Counting Day: Just a day before vote counting in West Bengal, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has triggered a political storm with allegations of a potential data leak involving officials on election duty.
Adhikari claimed that individuals assigned to counting duty are sharing confidential deployment details,such as their posting location, designation, and specific roles,with internal groups, associations, or departmental networks.
He backed his claim by posting screenshots on social media platform X, suggesting that this information is being circulated in an organized manner.
Alleged Use of Lists to Collect Officials’ Deployment Information
According to him, structured spreadsheets and lists are being passed around where officials are either willingly or under pressure entering their duty-related information.
These lists reportedly map out who is stationed where and in what capacity during the counting process.
He warned that this is not just a procedural lapse but a serious breach that could open doors to undue influence and compromise the integrity of the system.
Concerns Over Neutrality and Possible Pressure Tactics
Highlighting the risks, Adhikari said the entire counting exercise relies on strict confidentiality.
If officials’ deployment details are exposed, it could make them vulnerable to external pressure, especially from groups with possible political affiliations.
He cautioned that such tactics could be used to sway officials during counting, raising questions over the fairness and transparency of the final results.
Calls for Urgent Action from Election Commission
In response, Adhikari has urged the Election Commission of India to step in immediately.
He has demanded clear and strict guidelines to prevent officials from sharing any duty-related information outside official channels.
He also called for a detailed probe into the organizations allegedly collecting this sensitive data, stressing that accountability is crucial to maintaining trust in the electoral process.