The Election Commission of India (EC) has taken the significant step of writing to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), urgently seeking the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to secure the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in West Bengal. This move comes in the wake of a security breach where the office was surrounded by political workers.
Security Vulnerabilities Prompt Urgent Action
In a letter dispatched on Thursday, the poll body highlighted immediate security threats to the CEO's office, which is currently located in a rented space on the second and third floors of Balmer Lawrie Co Ltd. at 21 Netaji Subhash Bose Road in Kolkata. The EC has requested that adequate CAPF personnel be deployed immediately to ensure round-the-clock safety for the officers and staff.
The commission pointed to a specific incident on November 24 and 25 as the catalyst for this decision. During those days, the office was gheraoed by a crowd of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and workers affiliated with certain political parties. The EC expressed concern that similar incidents could recur, jeopardizing the integrity and safety of the electoral machinery.
Relocation to a New Premises
Citing multiple operational issues, the EC also informed the MHA about plans to shift the CEO office to a new location. The current premises were deemed to have security vulnerabilities and a lack of basic amenities. Consequently, the office will be moved in the coming days to the second and third floors of the Shipping House at 13 Strand Road, BBD Bag, in Kolkata.
The request for central forces covers security provision at both the existing location and the new premises once the transition is complete. This underscores the EC's assessment of a persistent threat environment requiring paramilitary protection.
Implications for Electoral Integrity
This direct appeal to the central government for forces bypasses the current security arrangement, where the office is manned by the Kolkata Police. The EC's action signals a lack of confidence in the state-managed security apparatus for safeguarding its key officials during the sensitive electoral period.
The letter explicitly stated that the occurrence of such gherao incidents in the future may not be ruled out, making pre-emptive central force deployment a necessary precaution. This development highlights the ongoing tensions and challenges in administering elections in the politically charged atmosphere of West Bengal, placing a sharp focus on the autonomy and security of constitutional bodies like the Election Commission.
