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Bengal Voter List Crisis: 8,505 Officers' Credentials Delay Election Prep

The Election Commission of India is facing delays as it awaits detailed background information from the West Bengal government regarding 8,505 Group-B officers recommended for the Special Intensive Revision. With a key deadline for voter list hearings on February 14, insiders indicate it is unlikely these officers can be involved in that phase due to the unresolved queries. The ECI has specific information suggesting the list includes ineligible personnel like upper-division clerks and even a retired employee. The final voter list is set for February 28, after which the full ECI bench will visit Kolkata to assess the situation before announcing poll dates.

Key Points: Bengal Election Officials' Credentials Delay Voter List Revision

  • ECI questions credentials of 8,505 state-recommended officers
  • Doubts over inclusion of clerks, typists in Group-B list
  • Deadline pressure for voter list hearings on Feb 14
  • Final voters' list publication scheduled for Feb 28
2 min read

Bengal SIR: ECI waiting for answers to questions on Bengal govt officials

ECI awaits details on 8,505 Bengal Group-B officers, casting doubt on their role in the crucial Special Intensive Revision before polls.

"hardly any possibility of any of these 8,505 officers being involved in the hearing process - CEO's office insider"

Kolkata, Feb 12

Grave uncertainties are looming over the inclusion of the 8,505 Group-B officers provided by the West Bengal government in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision in the state, as the Election Commission has not received the detailed background information of these officers from the state government till February 11.

Insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said that besides asking for the pay bands of all these 8,505 officers whose names have been recommended by the state government, the ECI had also sought some additional details in case of some in the list whose status as Group-B officers is doubtful.

"With just two days left for the deadline to complete the hearing sessions on claims and objections on the draft voters' list on February 14, there is hardly any possibility of any of these 8,505 officers being involved in the hearing process. Some of them may be involved during the document scrutiny and disposal phase from February 14 to February 21. However, that will also depend on how far the state government clarifies the credentials of the officers in question," said a CEO's office insider.

It is understood that the ECI has obtained specific information indicating that the names of some upper-division clerks and even typists have been included in the list of 8,505 Group-B officers whose names were provided by the state government. There is also information that the name of a retired state government employee has been included in the same list.

The ECI had already sought the background details of the questionable names in the list from the state government and the respective state government departments that they were attached to.

The final voters' list is scheduled to be published on February 28. After the publication of the final voters' list, the full bench of the ECI will arrive in Kolkata for a two-day visit to take stock of the post-SIR scenario. Soon after that, the ECI will announce the polling dates for the Assembly election in the state.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
Very concerning. It looks like the state government is trying to cut corners or, worse, influence the process. The ECI must stand firm and not allow any officer with dubious credentials to be involved. Our democracy depends on it.
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Aman W
As a citizen of Bengal, I want this process to be clean and transparent. Why is there always some controversy before elections here? The officials need to do their job properly. No more delays, please.
P
Priyanka N
While I support strict scrutiny, let's also be fair. Could this be a genuine administrative error? The scale is huge—8,505 officers. Maybe the data entry was messy. But the government must answer the ECI's questions promptly.
D
David E
Watching from outside India, it's impressive to see the Election Commission's diligence. This level of detailed scrutiny is what builds trust in the electoral process. Hope the state government cooperates fully.
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Vikram M
The deadline is too tight now. Because of this delay, the hearing process might suffer. Ultimately, it's the common voter who faces the inconvenience if their name is missing or wrong in the list. The government needs to be more responsible.

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