Election Commission – Suvendu Adhikari Questions Officer Appointments in Bengal
Election Commission – Political tensions in West Bengal have intensified following fresh criticism over the appointment of Electoral Registration Officers, even as the Supreme Court extended the deadline for the publication of the state’s revised voter list.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari has accused the West Bengal government of failing to adhere to guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India regarding officer deployment for electoral duties. He alleged that the appointments made for Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) did not meet the criteria specified by the Commission.
Allegations Over Officer Appointments
Addressing reporters on Monday, Adhikari said the Election Commission had sought 294 Grade A officers, including IAS and senior West Bengal Civil Service officials, to oversee electoral registration responsibilities. According to him, the state government instead provided 225 officers who belonged to B and C categories of the West Bengal Civil Service.
He argued that such appointments were inconsistent with the Commission’s instructions and claimed the decision could affect the integrity of the electoral process. “There was no urgency that justified bypassing established guidelines,” he said, adding that adherence to the Commission’s framework is essential to maintain transparency.
Adhikari also drew comparisons with Bihar, stating that the Bihar government had deployed 1,000 temporary data entry operators to assist election authorities. He alleged that the West Bengal administration did not provide a similar number of personnel to support the revision exercise.
Supreme Court Extends Electoral Roll Deadline
The controversy unfolded alongside a key development in the Supreme Court. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant granted an additional week for the publication of the final electoral roll under the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) programme in West Bengal.
The final list was initially scheduled for release on February 14. The Court observed that Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers required more time to examine submitted documents and ensure that due procedure was followed before finalising entries.
The Bench noted that careful scrutiny was necessary to avoid errors and to uphold the credibility of the voter list. The extension, it said, would allow officials to complete verification in a thorough manner.
Court Seeks Explanation Over Law and Order
During the hearing, the Supreme Court also addressed allegations of violence linked to the revision exercise. Taking serious note of these claims, the Bench issued a show-cause notice to the Director General of Police of West Bengal, seeking details on measures taken to maintain law and order during the process.
The Court asked the state government to submit by 5 pm Tuesday a comprehensive list of 8,505 officers proposed for deployment. It further granted the Election Commission the authority to review these officers and, if necessary, replace existing EROs and Assistant EROs.
According to the Court’s direction, the Commission may shortlist personnel after reviewing their background and qualifications. Selected officers can then undergo brief training to assist electoral authorities and micro-observers already engaged in the process.
Political and Administrative Implications
The developments come at a sensitive time for West Bengal’s political landscape. Electoral roll revision is considered a critical administrative step, as it determines voter eligibility ahead of elections. Any procedural dispute over officer appointments or verification standards tends to draw sharp reactions from political parties.
While the state government has yet to issue a detailed public response to the allegations, officials have maintained that the revision exercise is being conducted under established norms. The Election Commission is expected to review the officer deployment and proceed in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions.
With the extended timeline in place, attention now shifts to how quickly the administrative issues are resolved and whether further legal or political challenges emerge in the coming days.