Bengal polls heat up: BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari tags ‘contract workers’ in vote counting

West Bengal Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari expressed concern over the deployment of contract and temporary workers for vote counting in two constituencies, saying it posed a threat to the integrity of the democratic process.Adhikari, who is also the BJP candidate from Bhowanipur, called the move “gravely concerning and a direct attack on the sanctity of the democratic process”.“Has the fate of democracy been left in the hands of contract workers?” Adhikari wrote.Referring to the counting orders issued against 227-Pingla AC and 230-Daspur AC, he questioned the involvement of non-permanent staff in handling sensitive election materials.“How can ‘Jibika Sebaks’, ‘Sahayaks’ and ‘Contract DEOs’ be entrusted with the sensitive task of handling EVMs, VVPATs and postal votes?” he asked, adding that these roles are “inherently vulnerable to political pressure and lack the institutional accountability required for a sacred process like counting of votes”, Adhikari posted on X.He also called on the authorities to intervene immediately election commission of india and Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal to ensure that only permanent government employees are deployed for counting duties. “This looks like a desperate attempt by the ruling authorities to manipulate the final mandate through vulnerable personnel,” Adhikari claimed, urging a full audit of the vote counters in the Pashim Medinipur district.“The Election Commission of India must take action to prevent ‘contractualization of democracy’. We will not allow those whose jobs depend on the whims of the ruling party to tamper with the people’s mission.”The remarks by the BJP leader came amid allegations that EVM tampering The party’s symbol, the lotus, was allegedly “covered with tape” at some polling stations in Falta constituency of South 24 Parganas district.Re-polling is underway at 15 polling stations in South 24 Parganas district, 11 of which are in Magrahat Paschim constituency and four in Diamond Harbor constituency.In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, the Election Commission of India said that the re-poll was ordered based on the input of the state electoral machinery and the polling time is scheduled from 7 am to 6 pm on the same day.