Election Commission Issues Directives to Bengal Ahead of Assembly Polls
In a crucial meeting held in Delhi on Friday, West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty engaged with senior officials from the Election Commission of India to deliberate on comprehensive preparations for the upcoming state assembly elections, which are anticipated to be scheduled for April. The discussions centered on ensuring a free, fair, and transparent electoral process, with the EC laying down specific mandates for the state administration.
Immediate Transfer of Long-Serving Officers Ordered
A primary directive from the Election Commission required the immediate transfer of administrative officers who have been stationed in the same district for a period exceeding three years. This measure aims to prevent any potential biases or undue influences that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process, ensuring neutrality in the execution of election-related duties across Bengal's districts.
State Government's Stance on FIRs Against Officials
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Chakravorty presented the state government's official position regarding the Election Commission's earlier instruction to file First Information Reports (FIRs) against two Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), along with a data entry operator. These individuals are accused of misusing passwords to access the EC's official portal, an action deemed a serious breach of electoral security protocols.
Additional EC Demands: Suspension and Withdrawal of Transfers
The Election Commission further escalated its demands by seeking the suspension of Sumitra Prathim Pradhan, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Basirhat-II, for allegedly deploying eleven AEROs without proper authorization. Additionally, the EC called for the withdrawal of transfers involving three observers—Randhir Kumar, Smita Pandey, and Ashwini Kumar Yadav—emphasizing the need for stability and expertise in oversight roles during the election period.
Background: Previous EC Summons and Actions
This meeting follows a series of earlier interactions between the Election Commission and Bengal's administrative leadership. In August of the previous year, the EC had summoned then Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to account for delays in taking disciplinary action against the EROs and AEROs implicated in sharing login credentials with unauthorized persons. At that time, the EC had demanded their suspension, initiation of departmental proceedings, and registration of FIRs. While the state government subsequently suspended the officials, it refrained from lodging the FIRs, leading to ongoing tensions.
Recent Developments and Compliance Deadlines
Upon assuming the role of chief secretary, Nandini Chakravorty received a formal communication from the Election Commission reiterating the insistence on filing FIRs against the accused officials. The EC set a compliance deadline of February 9 for submitting a report on the actions taken. In a related development, several deputy election commissioners are scheduled to visit Kolkata on March 1 for further assessments, as confirmed by an official source.
Appointment of Special Roll Observer
In a parallel move, the Election Commission announced the appointment of retired IPS officer N.K. Mishra as a special roll observer to oversee the Summary Revision of the electoral roll in Bengal. A 1988-batch IPS officer from the Sikkim cadre, Mishra has previously served as the Director General of Police in Sikkim and as a special director in the Intelligence Branch. His appointment, made just a day before the conclusion of SIR hearings, marks him as the sixth roll observer assigned to Bengal, following earlier appointments including Subrata Gupta and four others.
This series of directives and appointments underscores the Election Commission's intensified focus on bolstering electoral integrity in West Bengal as the state gears up for the assembly elections, with a clear emphasis on administrative accountability and procedural adherence.
