Election Commission Demands Action Report from West Bengal Chief Secretary
The Election Commission of India has escalated its confrontation with the West Bengal government by seeking an urgent report from the state's chief secretary regarding alleged voter list manipulations. According to a senior official of the poll body speaking to PTI, the commission has demanded a detailed explanation within 72 hours on why disciplinary actions were not implemented against four state government officials accused of illegally adding names to electoral rolls in two districts.
Officials Accused of Electoral Roll Irregularities
The controversy centers around four officials:
- Electoral Registration Officers Debottam Dutta Chowdhury and Biplab Sarkar
- Assistant Electoral Registration Officers Tathagat Mondal and Sudipto Das
These officials allegedly included names of voters on electoral rolls illegally in Purba Medinipur and South 24 Parganas districts. The EC had previously recommended their suspension and initiation of criminal proceedings for these alleged irregularities.
EC's Stern Communication to State Government
In a letter dated August 5, 2025, the Election Commission had directed the state government to:
- Suspend the concerned EROs and AEROs
- Initiate suitable disciplinary proceedings
- Lodge FIRs against the erring officials
The chief secretary has now been asked to explain by 5 pm on January 24 why these directives were not implemented. An official of the commission revealed that despite repeated orders, FIRs were not filed against the accused officials, prompting the EC to now ask district magistrates to take action.
Political Tensions Escalate
The matter has taken a political turn with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing the Election Commission of intimidating state government officials during a meeting in Jhargram. The state Home Department's special commissioner had written to the chief electoral officer seeking withdrawal of the FIR directive, arguing it would constitute "major punishment for minor mistakes."
However, the Election Commission remained firm in its position, emphasizing that "no lapse in implementing electoral law will be overlooked." The CEO reportedly forwarded the state's letter to Delhi, but the EC maintained its stance on strict action.
Background of the Special Intensive Revision
Before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the poll body had instructed the West Bengal government to:
- Suspend the officials involved
- Conduct departmental inquiries
- File FIRs for allegedly adding "ghost voters" to the rolls
The EC had stated at the time that "action must be taken to ensure the integrity of the electoral rolls," highlighting the importance of maintaining clean voter lists for democratic processes.
Law and Order Directives
In compliance with the Supreme Court's order dated January 19, 2026, the Election Commission has also written to the West Bengal chief secretary and director general of police, directing them to ensure strict maintenance of law and order during the SIR process. The EC further instructed the DGP, Kolkata Police commissioner, and district police heads to prevent any law and order situations at SIR venues, warning that strict action would be taken against any non-compliance or disruption.
This development represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the Election Commission and the West Bengal government over electoral integrity matters, with both sides taking firm positions on the handling of alleged voter list irregularities.
