TMC claims 40 SIR-related deaths in WB; EC junks claims

A Trinamool Congress delegation on Friday alleged before the Election Commission top brass that around 40 SIR-related deaths had occurred in West Bengal so far, a charge junked by the poll authority.The TMC delegation, which met the EC top brass, also accused CEC Gyanesh Kumar of having “blood on his hands”.The 10-member delegation, led by TMC leader Derek O’Brien, met the EC officials amid the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal. EC officials noted that during the meeting, the TMC leaders were told that the independence of booth-level officers should not be interfered with during the enumeration forms distribution process as part of SIR. “EC also told the delegation of TMC not to influence or threaten the BLOs regarding dead, shifted and duplicate voters,” an official later said. The ECI also told the AITC delegation that while political rhetoric is their prerogative, they should refrain from spreading misinformation relating to election procedures.Following their meeting, O’Brien addressed reporters, saying that the party had raised five questions, but CEC Kumar did not respond to any of them.