The Election Commission of India has taken a firm stance on alleged electoral roll manipulation in West Bengal. On Saturday, the commission sent a third reminder to district election officers in two key districts. This action targets officials accused of tampering with voter lists.
Persistent Pressure from Election Commission
The Election Commission directed district election officers of South 24-Parganas and East Midnapore to lodge FIRs against electoral registration officers and their assistants. These officials worked in Baruipur East and Moyna assembly constituencies. The commission wants legal action against them for suspected manipulation of electoral rolls.
State Government's Attempted Intervention
Just one day before this reminder, the West Bengal government made a fresh appeal to the Election Commission. State authorities pleaded with the commission to reconsider its decision to file FIRs against four officials and one casual data entry operator from Baruipur East. This marks the latest effort by the state to shield these individuals from criminal proceedings.
The controversy dates back to August 2025. At that time, the Election Commission first ordered the filing of FIRs against five election-related personnel. All five faced allegations of manipulating electoral rolls in West Bengal. The commission suspected deliberate tampering with voter lists to influence election outcomes.
Suspensions and Previous Meetings
Following the initial FIR directive, the state government attempted to intervene directly. Then Chief Secretary Manoj Pant traveled to Delhi to appear before Election Commission officials. He presented the state's case against pursuing criminal charges against the electoral staff.
Despite these high-level discussions, the Election Commission maintained its position. The commission proceeded with disciplinary action against the accused officials. All electoral registration officers and assistant electoral registration officers involved in the case received suspensions from their duties.
Now, with this third reminder, the Election Commission demonstrates its determination to see the legal process through. District election officers must comply with the directive to file formal police complaints. The commission appears unwilling to drop the matter despite state government pressure.
This ongoing standoff highlights tensions between state authorities and constitutional bodies during election preparations. The case involves serious allegations about the integrity of voter registration processes. Election Commission officials emphasize the importance of maintaining clean electoral rolls for free and fair elections.
Observers note that repeated reminders suggest possible resistance at the district level. The commission's persistence indicates this case remains a priority for election integrity measures in Bengal. All eyes now turn to whether district election officers will finally implement the FIR directive or seek further delays.
