In a fresh setback to the state administration, the Election Commission of India (ECI) rejected the panel of names proposed by the West Bengal government for three critical posts in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), citing a lack of experience in conducting elections. The development comes just months ahead of the crucial 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
According to sources, the Commission has refused to approve the list of names submitted by the state for the posts of Additional CEO, Deputy CEO and Joint CEO. The Commission had earlier instructed the state government to form a panel of three eligible candidates for each of the posts. However, officials in New Delhi found the shortlisted candidates lacking in requisite field-level experience related to electoral operations.
The Commission has formally communicated its objections to the state government on Wednesday via letter, instructing it to quickly submit a fresh panel comprising candidates with relevant qualifications and practical experience in election duties.
“This delay in appointments comes at a critical time. With the Assembly elections nearing, filling of these electoral posts is crucial to ensure the smooth conduct of polls. The rejection of the names has added administrative pressure on the state government, which must now swiftly identify and recommend new candidates,” said a bureaucrat in Mamata Banerjee’s government.
The incident also unfolds amid heightened tensions between the ECI and the state government. The Commission had recently recommended suspension of five officials, including two Electoral Registration Officers (ERO), an Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) for allegedly tampering with the voter list by entering false information. A formal letter regarding the suspensions was sent to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant.
The cancellation of the panel of names appears to have added fuel to the friction between the ECI and the state government. Mamata is opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an exercise closely monitored by the Election Commission, alleging that it is BJP’s plot to target Bengali-speaking electorates.
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