Bias and violence allegations mark second day of SIR enumeration form distribution across West Bengal

Stray incidents of violence have been reported during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) enumeration form distribution across West Bengal on Wednesday (November 5, 2025). The Booth Level Agents (BLA) of Opposition parties were allegedly attacked at a few places during the door-to-door survey. In some places, Booth Level Officers (BLO) were accused of operating under the influence of the Trinamool Congress. 

In Khanakul of Hooghly district, a BLO was seen going door-to-door with multiple people accompanying him carrying the TMC flag raising political criticism. 

“I started alone. But local members came along to help me. However, the people with the flags came later. I stopped them immediately, they left in some time,” Sariful Molla Haque, the BLO of Marakhana 292 block, told media persons. This came after the video went viral on social media on Wednesday. 

Sushanta Ghosh, Bharatiya Janta Party MLA from Khanakul said TMC is scared of SIR, that is why workers are following BLOs with party flags. 

However, local TMC leaders dismissed the claims and said BJP has not been able to support the people during the SIR process, so they stepped up to the task. 

A similar accusation has been made in Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman district, where a local TMC leader was seen roaming around with the BLO during form distribution.  

In another viral video, a BLO in Murshidabad district’s Bhagabangola area was seen distributing enumeration forms from a local TMC leaders house. In the video a BLA is seen questioning the BLO for not going door-to-door but distributing the forms from a party leaders’ home. 

However, the BLO refuted these claims and said that he was not aware that the house he was sitting at belonged to any political leader.  

BLAs attacked 

Two BJP BLAs have accused that they have been attacked during enumeration form distribution. 

Khirodh Barman, a BJP BLA from Cooch Behar district’s Mathabhanga area accused that he was manhandled by TMC workers and forced out during the form distribution process. 

“They snatched all my papers and forced me to leave,” Mr. Barman accused. 

However, local TMC leader Bikram Dutta, local Panchayat member said no TMC members were present and were not part of the alleged incident. “Locals may have asked them to leave due to dissatisfaction over the complicated SIR process. We were not involved,” Mr. Dutta said. 

Another similar accusation came from North 24 Pargana district’s Hingalganj area, where a BLA accused that he was physically abused by TMC workers during form distribution on Tuesday (November 4, 2025). However, TMC leaders have shared no reaction regarding the accusation. 

SIR process in full swing  

Meanwhile, senior TMC leaders like MP Sougata Roy and MLA Madan Mitra were seen receiving their SIR enumeration forms at their residences on Wednesday in Kolkata.  

Until Wednesday evening, more than 1.10 crore enumeration forms were distributed by the BLOs across West Bengal, starting from Tuesday morning. 

As of Wednesday, the TMC submitted 147 BLA 1 forms and 27,744 BLA 2 forms, the BJP submitted 339 BLA 1 forms and 35,651 BLA 2 forms, while the CPI(M) submitted 196 BLA 1 forms and 27,392 BLA 2 forms.