Kolkata, 01 April (H.S.) : The Bharatiya Janata Party has hit back at the All India Trinamool Congress over the controversy surrounding Form 6 applications, questioning the allegations made by the ruling party and claiming that Bengali Hindu voters were being unfairly targeted.

The BJP claimed that of the seven Form 6 application images shared by the Trinamool Congress, four related to individuals whose names had been deleted from the voter list, while the remaining applications were for new voter registrations. The party also pointed out that the surnames of the applicants included common Bengali names such as De and Banerjee.

The development comes after the Trinamool Congress alleged that attempts were being made to include “outsiders” in West Bengal’s electoral rolls. In response, the BJP has accused the ruling party of trying to prevent Bengali Hindus from remaining on the voter list.

In a social media post on X, BJP leaders argued that the surnames of the applicants themselves contradicted the TMC’s claims that they were outsiders. The party further alleged that the state government was attempting to remove the names of Bengali Hindu voters from the rolls.

Amit Malviya, BJP IT cell chief and the party’s co-observer for West Bengal, also shared the party’s statement on his X handle and reiterated the allegations. He also referred to tennis player Leander Paes, claiming that he too had been described as an outsider. Paes had formally joined the BJP in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The controversy over Form 6 submissions has intensified political tensions in the state ahead of the Assembly elections. The Trinamool Congress has alleged that the BJP was trying to include voters from other states in the West Bengal electoral rolls by submitting bulk Form 6 applications.

Earlier this week, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee visited the office of the state’s Chief Electoral Officer to lodge a complaint. He alleged that the BJP was attempting to secure its vote base by enrolling non-resident voters and that large numbers of Form 6 applications were being submitted in bulk.

The issue also led to heightened tensions outside the CEO office, where workers and supporters of both parties were involved in protests over the allegations.

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal later clarified that various documents, including Form 6 applications, are routinely received by the office. He assured that established rules and verification procedures would determine which applications would be accepted.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar raising concerns over the Form 6 issue.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh