ECI's Rare Move to Name Bengal Home Secretary as Observer Sparks Controversy
A fresh controversy has emerged in West Bengal following an unusual decision by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The poll body has named Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena as one of the central observers for Assembly elections in other states, a move that has raised eyebrows among state government officials and could potentially lead to another standoff.
ECI's Directive and Strict Warning
The ECI has issued a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, directing that Meena and other officials attend a briefing meeting for central observers scheduled for February 5 and 6. The commission has emphasized the seriousness of this directive, stating that unauthorized absence from the meeting shall be viewed very seriously and may result in disciplinary proceedings against the concerned officers.
The letter further requests that the CEO ensure service of the meeting notice within 24 hours through any available means and provide a written confirmation report along with acknowledgments from the officers. This strict approach underscores the ECI's determination to enforce compliance.
Departure from Normal Practice
According to a section of state government officials, the ECI typically excludes the home secretary and chief secretary from being appointed as central observers. This deviation from standard practice has led to concerns that it could spark another confrontation with the Bengal government, which has a history of tensions with the central election body.
However, the ECI has denied these allegations. A senior ECI official explained that the commission had multiple times requested names of IAS and IPS officers from batches ranging from 1996 to 2016, but the state government failed to provide them. Consequently, the ECI chose names randomly from available lists.
Clarification on Officer Ranks
The ECI official clarified that the commission does not typically name additional chief secretary-rank officers as observers. He noted that Jagdish Prasad Meena is not an Additional Chief Secretary but holds the additional charge of Home Secretary. This distinction appears to be a key factor in the ECI's decision-making process.
The state government has yet to announce whether it will permit Meena to participate as an observer, leaving the situation in a state of uncertainty as the February meeting approaches.
List of Appointed Observers
In addition to Jagdish Prasad Meena, the ECI has named several other officers as central observers:
- Asvini Kumar Yadav
- Salim P B
- Avnindra Singh
- Saumitra Mohan
- Smaraki Mahapatra
- Archana
- Sanjay Bansal
- P Mohan Gandhi
- Shubhanjan Das
- P Ulaganathan
- Saurav Pahari
- Rachna Bhagat
- Ritendra Narayan Basu Roy Choudhury
- Rajanvir Singh Kapur
The commission has also called several IPS officers to serve as observers, including:
- Bharat Lal Meena
- Rajesh Kumar Yadav
- Praveen Kumar Tripathi
- Rishikesh Meena
- Sabya Sachi Raman Mishra
- Sunil Kumar Choudhary
- Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi
- Sukesh Kumar Jain
- Anoop Jaiswal
- Sudheer Kumar Neelakantam
Broader Electoral Context
This development occurs as elections are scheduled this year not only in West Bengal but also in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. The ECI's observer appointments are part of broader preparations for these significant electoral exercises, which will shape the political landscape across multiple states.
The unusual inclusion of a sitting home secretary as an observer for other states' elections represents a notable departure from established norms and highlights the ongoing tensions between central election authorities and state governments in India's federal structure.
