In a stern rebuke, the Election Commission of India has flagged serious lapses in election groundwork in two West Bengal districts. The Commission’s frustration was conveyed directly to the state CEO’s office, emphasizing the urgency to rectify shortcomings before polls kick off.
The issue surfaced during a high-level virtual conference last week, where ECI brass in Delhi grilled West Bengal’s district administrators, senior civil servants, and law enforcement heads on preparation updates. Districts were put under the microscope for everything from booth setups to EVM logistics.
According to insiders, post-meeting analysis pinpointed deficiencies despite prior warnings. Undeterred by Wednesday’s Holi break, Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar held an impromptu virtual session late that night. He took umbrage at the tepid pace in South 24 Parganas and one other district, urging officials to pull up their socks.
Thursday brings another virtual showdown, likely packed with mandates to expedite pending tasks. The ECI’s complete team lands in Kolkata on the night of March 8, launching back-to-back intensive reviews on the 9th and 10th. Agenda tops include judicial examinations of voter roll anomalies labeled as ‘logical discrepancies’ and a holistic poll readiness audit.
Adding to the drama, CPI-M cadres launched a defiant all-night dharna outside the CEO office in Kolkata from late Wednesday. They insist on halting election scheduling until voter list investigations wrap up and authentic names are secured. The agitation rolled into Thursday, with leaders refusing to budge sans a meeting with CEO Manoj Agarwal.
February 28 marked the release of the definitive voter list, sans those flagged for court review. Further addendums await judicial clearance, keeping the spotlight on transparency and fairness in Bengal’s electoral process.