Act Against 4 Negligent Election Officials By 3 PM On Aug 11: ECI’s Ultimatum To Bengal Government
What seems to have raised alarm for the Election Commission is the absence of response from the state administration, despite clear-cut instructions.
In a strongly worded letter to the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has conveyed serious concern over irregularities in the handling of Form 6 applications—documents filed by citizens seeking inclusion in the electoral rolls in two assembly constituencies: 137-Baruipur Purba and 206-Moyna.
The communication, sent earlier this week, follows up on previous directives from the commission ordering the immediate suspension of four election officials—serving as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs)—for alleged misconduct. The ECI had also instructed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against these officials, along with lodging of formal complaints or FIRs (First Information Reports) against them and a data entry operator accused of mishandling the process.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the commission’s earlier probe uncovered unexplained discrepancies in the scrutiny, approval, and record-keeping of Form 6 applications in both constituencies, triggering concerns of possible manipulation of the voter database—a serious offence under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
What has further worried the commission is the lack of compliance from the state administration, despite receiving clear instructions. The letter categorically notes that no compliance report outlining punitive or procedural steps taken against the named officials has so far reached the commission’s office.
Citing the urgency and the sanctity of the electoral process, the letter has now issued a final warning to the state government, directing it to carry out the pending actions without any further delay. The commission has set a strict deadline for compliance, seeking a detailed action-taken report by 3 pm on August 11, 2025.
Failure to comply, sources suggest, could attract further censure or even legal proceedings under provisions governing the conduct of elections and administrative accountability.
Political observers note that the strong stance of the Election Commission reflects its determination to uphold transparency in voter enrolment amid heightened scrutiny of pre-election preparations for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls.
