Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has cautioned senior bureaucrats in West Bengal against interfering in the electoral process, stressing that officials engaged in poll-related duties must be allowed to function independently. The warning was issued during a meeting between the full bench of the Election Commission of India and top state officials in Kolkata as part of the commission’s review of poll preparedness, according to a report by The Telegraph.
According to officials familiar with the discussion, the meeting was attended by senior members of the state administration, including Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty and Director General of Police Peeyush Pandey. During the interaction, Kumar reportedly emphasised that the Commission alone has the authority to guide officers responsible for conducting elections and that outside interference would not be acceptable.
According to the report by The Telegraph, sources said the CEC conveyed that the Commission regularly issues directions to officials handling election work and expects them to carry out those duties without external influence. “Any attempts to instruct or pressure district election authorities or police officials involved in the process would be viewed seriously,” he reportedly said.
“The EC knows how to conduct elections in the free and fair manner, whoever tries to intervene in the process shall not be tolerated,” The Telegraph wrote quoting the senior official.
The issue was also raised in connection with a meeting held a day earlier between the EC’s full bench and district magistrates, who serve as district election officers. Officials said the Commission had concluded the session early to allow the officers enough time to return to their districts. However, they were later reportedly asked to visit the state secretariat, Nabanna, to brief senior authorities about the discussion with the Commission. He also reported mentioned that officials of the state secretariat have “repeatedly created barriers” in completing the state-wide Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Mr. Kumar is said to have alleged that the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant EROs delayed uploading documents of the voters following the hearing process because “they were compelled by instructions from bureaucrats.”
According to sources present at the meeting, Kumar expressed concern over this development and advised the state administration not to seek details of internal discussions between the Commission and election officials. Such interactions, he reportedly said, should remain free from administrative intervention.
Officials also indicated that the Commission had received complaints regarding alleged interference during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to the sources, some election officials were allegedly instructed to delay uploading voter documents after hearings, which created complications for a large number of applicants. As a result, many voters were reportedly placed under the “adjudication” category because their documents were not uploaded within the stipulated timeframe.
The Commission is also understood to have flagged instances where incorrect or irrelevant documents were uploaded in place of the required records. Officials said the poll panel had earlier highlighted such cases during a video conference with district election officers, pointing out examples where blank pages or unrelated material had been submitted instead of valid proof.
According to election authorities, irregularities during the revision process can affect the timely updating of voter lists. Officials noted that if the process had proceeded smoothly, voters whose names were removed from the rolls would have had sufficient time to appeal before higher election authorities and submit proper documentation for reinstatement.
The Election Commission’s visit to Kolkata is part of its ongoing assessment of the state’s readiness for the upcoming polls, with meetings scheduled with administrative officials, security agencies and political representatives to ensure that the electoral process is conducted smoothly.
