Political parties yet to appoint booth level agents in Palamu

Daltonganj: Political parties are yet to appoint booth level agents (BLA) in Palamu though five months have passed since they have been directed by the district election officer cum deputy commissioner in accordance with the directive issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to do so.BLA plays a major role in electoral roll revisions. According to ECI, in case no BLA is appointed by a political party for any part of the electoral roll, then the copy of the electoral roll for that part of the exercise would not be handed over to any other person by the designated officer.The electoral registration officer of Bishrampur assembly constituency cum additional collector of Palamu, Kundan Kumar, said, “We have 367 polling booths in Bishrampur assembly seat.

No political party has so far appointed BLA despite repeated reminders.”The electoral registration officer of Daltonganj assembly constituency cum sub-divisional magistrate, Sulochana Meena, said, “We have provided the district chiefs of all the recognised political parties with two forms but none has submitted either of the two forms.”There are over 400 polling stations in Daltonganj assembly constituency.

Palamu BJP president Amit Tiwary said, “There are 1,796 polling stations in Palamu district, which consists of five assembly constituencies. BJP has booth committees. But many are unwilling to be a BLA. We are working on it.”District Congress chief Jayesh Ranjan Pathak said, “The list of the BLAs is yet to be finalised.”RJD state president Sanjay Kumar Singh Yadav said they were working on it on priority.