Why? Why? Why?” Mamata Banerjee Questions Election Commission Over Data Outsourcing, Polling Station Plans

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a strongly worded letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising serious concerns over two critical developments related to upcoming elections in the state.

In her letter, Banerjee criticized the Centralized Request for Proposal (RfP) issued by the Chief Election Officer (CEO) of West Bengal to outsource data entry work, questioning why 1,000 data entry operators and 50 software developers are being hired for an entire year when district offices already have qualified staff.

She wrote, “Traditionally, field offices hire contract data entry staff as needed. DEOs have the authority to make such hiring decisions. So why is the CEO office taking over a role that already exists locally? Are these moves being influenced by any political party?”

Banerjee highlighted that the timing and method of the RfP raise serious suspicions and could undermine the credibility of the election process. She emphasized that district offices are fully capable of handling voter data work without external outsourcing, and questioned the differences in service terms between existing staff and the proposed outsourced personnel.

Opposition to Polling in Private Residential Complexes
The Chief Minister also strongly opposed the proposal to set up polling stations inside private residential complexes. Banerjee argued that polling stations should always be located in government or semi-government institutions within a two-kilometer radius for easy access and to maintain neutrality. She warned that private buildings could lead to violations of established norms, create access issues, and potentially favor certain groups over others.

Banerjee’s letter repeatedly questioned the rationale behind these decisions: “Why? Why? Why? Such actions could have far-reaching consequences on the fairness and impartiality of the electoral process.”

She concluded by urging the Election Commission to address these issues with utmost seriousness, transparency, and neutrality, stressing that the credibility and respect of the Commission must not be compromised under any circumstances.