Kolkata: The Election Commission on Tuesday said it has ordered an inquiry into illegal mass submissions of Form 6 for voter inclusions after the issue snowballed into a major stand-off between Trinamool and BJP workers outside the Bengal CEO’s office.Police had to step in along with central forces to enforce prohibitory orders and chase away protesters. Trinamool later filed an FIR at Hare Street PS alleging that the BJP was illegally submitting Form 6 applications.The stand-off, which occasionally led to sporadic clashes between Trinamool and BJP workers, continued for four hours. Traffic was suspended from Council House Street to the Hare Street-Strand Road crossing, though vehicle movement towards Howrah Bridge largely remained unaffected.Ticking off the Kolkata Police, Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal said in the evening, “Whatever I had to say, I have conveyed to the authorities responsible for implementing BNSS 163. I am waiting for its enforcement. If it is not implemented, I will have to take direct control.” He added that commissioner Ajay Nand was submitting a report on the incident.It all started around 1 pm when several members of ‘BLO Adhikar Mancha’, a Trinamool-backed outfit, gathered outside the CEO’s office on Strand Road. They alleged that a youth, reportedly from East Midnapore, was carrying 400 Form 6 applications in a plastic bag. Workers said they caught him and demanded his arrest, staging a sit-in outside the office. Cops later detained him. CCTV visuals also showed a youth entering the premises with a stack of papers.Soon after, BJP workers and supporters from north Kolkata reached there, alleging that Trinamool activists had entered a restricted no-entry zone. Supporters of both parties assembled on opposite sides of police barricades, shouting slogans and accusing each other of intimidation. As the BLOs staged a sit-in and raised slogans, BJP workers, led by Chowringhee candidate Santosh Pathak, arrived at the spot and launched a counter-demonstration. The BJP alleged that one of its workers was assaulted, though details regarding the victim were not immediately available.By afternoon, the situation turned more volatile. BJP workers alleged that their members were assaulted by Trinamool supporters, while Trinamool workers accused BJP activists of toppling and damaging bikes parked nearby.Police dispersed BJP workers around 5 pm, while Trinamool protesters left half an hour later. But, a section of ‘BLO Adhikar Mancha’ members continued their demonstration till late evening.KP additional commissioner D P Singh reached the spot around 4.30 pm with a large force. Personnel in helmets, equipped with fibre sticks and shields, moved in to control the situation. Announcements were made asking protesters to vacate the area, which is under prohibitory orders under BNSS Section 163. As the stand-off continued, Bengal minister and Trinamool spokesperson Shashi Panja released fresh footage, allegedly showing batches of forms being carried inside the CEO’s office.“We have videos and stills that show unidentified people bringing Form 6 papers in bulk to the new CEO office. The rules allow a maximum of 50 applications per person. We have demanded that they show the CCTV footage to us. The CEO said he would get back. Even after 24 hours, he is yet to do so,” she told reporters. Announcing a probe into the Trinamool allegation of mass submissions of Form 6, Agarwal said, “There are no restrictions on submitting documents to govt offices. I was unaware that such a large number of Form 6 applications had been received.” He, however, made it clear that only applications received till 10 days prior to last day of nomination would be accepted, and if disposed of, the applicants can vote. So, those whose applications were received after March 27 cannot vote on April 23, as the last date for filing nominations is April 6.
