KOLKATA: In a stern move to clean up West Bengal’s voter rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a final ultimatum to the state government. Authorities must file FIRs against four errant election officials by February 17 for allegedly adding bogus names during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive.
Sources in the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office revealed that the ECI sent a pointed communication to the state secretariat on Saturday evening. Despite repeated reminders, the government had dragged its feet on initiating criminal proceedings against these officials implicated in voter list manipulations.
The four officials under the scanner are Debottram Dutta Chowdhury and Tathagata Mandal from Baruipur East assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district, both serving as Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and Assistant ERO respectively. The other two, Biplab Sarkar (ERO) and Sudipta Das (AERO), hail from Moyna assembly segment in East Midnapore district.
This isn’t the first time the ECI has cracked the whip. Back in August last year, the commission had directed the suspension of these officials alongside FIR registrations. The latest deadline underscores the poll body’s growing frustration with the state’s inaction amid ongoing efforts to ensure electoral integrity ahead of crucial polls.
Election watchdogs have long flagged concerns over inflated voter lists in West Bengal, particularly in areas with a history of political violence. The SIR process aims to weed out duplicates and fakes, but local officials’ alleged complicity threatens to undermine these reforms.
As February 17 approaches, all eyes are on the Mamata Banerjee administration. Compliance could restore some faith in the system; defiance might invite further central intervention. With elections on the horizon, this showdown could set the tone for a fiercely contested battleground.