The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed 25 senior IAS and IPS officers from West Bengal as central observers for the upcoming Assembly elections in five states—West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry—setting off a fresh confrontation between the Commission and the West Bengal government.
The list, released by the ECI, includes 15 IAS and 10 IPS officers. Most notably, the name of West Bengal Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena figures among the appointees. His inclusion has raised eyebrows in administrative and political circles, as he currently holds a key position in a state where elections are due to be held.
Addressing the controversy, the Commission clarified that it had repeatedly sought recommendations from the state government for the appointment of central observers. According to the Commission, at least five letters were sent to Nabanna, the state secretariat, but no response was received within the stipulated timeframe. As a result, the ECI said it was compelled to finalise and publish the list on its own.
An earlier letter from the Commission has now surfaced, shedding light on the sequence of events. The first communication was sent on November 24, when Manoj Pant was serving as the Chief Secretary of West Bengal. Follow-up letters were dispatched on December 2, 9, and 16. Despite these reminders, the Commission claims that no names were forwarded by the state government.
In the correspondence, the ECI noted that Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry are scheduled for the first half of 2026. It also mentioned the likelihood of by-elections for vacant seats in several states, necessitating the deployment of a large number of IAS and IPS officers as central observers. The Commission further instructed that any change in posting or designation of the listed officers must be immediately communicated.
So far, Nabanna has not issued an official response. However, sources indicate that the state government is preparing to send a counter-letter to the Commission, contesting the move. The contents of that communication and the ECI’s subsequent response are expected to determine the next course of action in this escalating administrative standoff.
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