Election Commission Stands Firm on IAS and IPS Officers for Poll Observers in West Bengal

Election Commission's Decision on Poll Observers

Kolkata: On Wednesday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) firmly informed the West Bengal government that the list of 15 IAS and 10 IPS officers designated as central poll observers would remain unchanged.

These selected officers are required to arrive in New Delhi by Wednesday night or, at the latest, by Thursday morning to participate in a two-day training session for central poll observers starting Thursday.

The ECI has dismissed the alternative names proposed by the West Bengal government for these appointments.

Previously, the ECI had notified the state regarding the selection of these officers as observers. However, the West Bengal government raised strong objections, particularly against the appointment of state Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena.

While the ECI is permitted to assign IAS and IPS officers from one state to serve as observers in another, it is uncommon for a state home secretary to be chosen for this role. Nonetheless, there are no regulations preventing such a selection.

The state government had suggested alternative candidates from its cadre, but the ECI reiterated on Wednesday that its original selection of 15 IAS and 10 IPS officers would stand.

The Trinamool Congress has criticized the Commission's decision as unilateral and accused it of acting under the influence of the BJP.

In response, the ECI has attributed the situation to the state government's actions, claiming that previous requests for names of bureaucrats and police officers for observer roles were largely ignored by the state.