KOLKATA – In a strong endorsement of electoral integrity, West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari welcomed the Election Commission’s decision to suspend seven Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Speaking to reporters at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport before departing for Delhi, Adhikari accused the Mamata Banerjee government of orchestrating these irregularities.
Adhikari highlighted that this marks the first time the EC has directly exercised its authority during the SIR in West Bengal, previously issuing directives only to Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravarty. ‘These seven officers were suspended for valid reasons,’ he asserted. ‘They accepted invalid school certificates and PAN cards, flagrantly violating 13 EC guidelines.’
Pointing fingers at the administration, the BJP leader claimed the misconduct occurred under pressure from Chief Secretary Chakravarty, who he alleged runs a ‘racket’ on behalf of Banerjee. He criticized the state for failing to resolve Form 7 complaints despite EC orders, noting that unlike other states where administrative machinery handles EC files independently, in Bengal, they allegedly reach the Chief Minister’s desk directly.
‘Even the Prime Minister doesn’t interfere like this during national polls,’ Adhikari remarked, praising the EC for finally stepping in to correct the course. This development underscores growing tensions between the state government and central poll authorities as voter list revisions intensify ahead of potential elections.
The suspensions signal a tougher stance from the EC, potentially setting a precedent for stricter oversight in politically charged states like West Bengal. Adhikari’s vocal support amplifies calls for transparent electoral processes, resonating with opposition concerns over alleged manipulations.