Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has summoned West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to Delhi, escalating tensions between the state government and the central poll body. The summons follows the Mamata Banerjee-led government’s refusal to fully comply with the ECI’s directive to suspend four state officials accused of irregularities in electoral roll preparation.
ECI Suspension order for 4 Official’s
On August 5, the ECI ordered the suspension of two Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Debottam Dutta Choudhury and Biplab Sarkar, and two Assistant EROs, Tathagata Mondal and Sudipta Das, along with a data entry operator, for allegedly facilitating fictitious voter registrations in Baruipur Purba and Moyna constituencies. The ECI also directed the state to file FIRs against the accused and submit a compliance report by 3 PM on August 11.
State’s Non Compliance
In response, the West Bengal government, through Chief Secretary Pant, informed the ECI that it had removed two of the officials—Sudipta Das and Surajit Halder—from election duties but declined to suspend them, citing their “proven sincerity and competence.” The state argued that suspension was “disproportionately harsh” and initiated an internal inquiry instead.
This partial compliance has drawn sharp criticism from the ECI, prompting the summons for Pant to explain the state’s stance.
CM Opposes ECI’s action, accuses of acting under Opposition
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vocally opposed the ECI’s actions, accusing the commission of acting under the influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to intimidate state officials. At a rally in Jhargram, she questioned the ECI’s jurisdiction, stating, “Has the election been announced? Under which law are you directing us? I won’t punish them.” She further alleged a political motive, linking the ECI’s actions to a broader conspiracy involving the National Register of Citizens (NRC).