Kolkata/New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, an IAS Officer of 1994 batch from West bengal cadre, appeared before the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi on Friday after being summoned over alleged non-compliance with several directives issued by the poll panel.
Sources said the Chief Secretary faced pointed questions during the hour-long meeting at Nirvachan Sadan regarding delays and failures in implementing the Commission’s orders. She was cautioned over the non-compliance and asked to ensure immediate adherence to the directives.
The latest development marks a fresh escalation in the ongoing confrontation between the Bengal government and the Election Commission, despite recent interventions by the Supreme Court of India aimed at streamlining the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
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FIRs, Suspensions and Transfers at the Centre of Dispute
The ECI raised several issues of non-compliance during the meeting. Among them was the alleged failure to lodge FIRs against four former Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) of the Baruipur Purba and Moyna Assembly segments for enrolling fictitious voters.
The Commission had also directed the state government to:
- Initiate departmental proceedings and file an FIR against the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Basirhat II for appointing 11 additional AEROs to conduct hearings without prior approval of the Commission.
- Suspend the Basirhat II AERO for allegedly conducting an illegal hearing.
- Cancel the departmental transfers of three officers.
Revoke transfer orders of three IAS officers — Smita Pandey, Randhir Kumar, and Ashwini Kumar Yadav — who were appointed as district electoral roll observers.
In a letter issued on Tuesday, the ECI specifically instructed the Chief Secretary to cancel the transfers related to electoral rolls and to obtain “prior concurrence of the Commission” before issuing such orders in the future.
An official present at the meeting said the Chief Secretary was asked to implement the Commission’s orders immediately.
Political Interference, Bogus Documents and SIR Scrutiny
Tensions have intensified as the ECI continues its push to sanitize voter lists ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The Mamata Banerjee-led government has alleged that the process is being conducted in a manner that could improperly exclude eligible voters.
The ECI, however, has maintained that the Special Intensive Revision is aimed at ensuring accuracy and preventing the enrollment of ineligible or foreign voters.
During a video conference held alongside the Chief Secretary’s appearance, the poll body also pulled up several District Magistrates (DMs), who serve as District Election Officers (DEOs), over alleged lapses in document verification during the SIR drive.
According to sources, top EC officials questioned DEOs for verifying dubious documents such as:
- Newspaper cuttings
- Blank pages
- Unclear images
- Testimonials not included in the specified list
The Commission expressed concern over anomalies detected in the uploading and verification of documents submitted by voters during hearings.
The ECI directed all DMs to remove fictitious or invalid documents from the system by 5 pm on February 16.
Strong Warning to Election Officers
The Commission issued a stern warning to DEOs, EROs, and AEROs, emphasizing that political interference with Booth Level Officers would not be tolerated.
The ECI also made it clear that documents verified and used for voter enrollment would remain in the system for years. If any anomaly is detected even five years later, the officers responsible could face prosecution.
In a significant move, the poll panel appointed retired IPS officer N.K. Mishra as Special Observer for the SIR process to oversee the revision exercise and ensure compliance with guidelines.
Previous Summons and Continuing Friction
This is not the first time the Commission has summoned a West Bengal Chief Secretary over similar issues. In August last year, the ECI had called then Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to New Delhi over the state government’s reluctance to implement its order suspending EROs and AEROs in Baruipur East and East Midnapore’s Moyna, among other cases.
Despite judicial interventions aimed at streamlining the revision process, friction between the state administration and the poll panel appears far from resolved.
Larger Implications Ahead of 2026 Assembly Polls
The confrontation assumes significance in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal. The Election Commission’s insistence on strict compliance, coupled with the state government’s objections to certain aspects of the SIR drive, has created a tense administrative and political environment.
With warnings issued, deadlines set, and a special observer appointed, the coming weeks are likely to determine whether the state government and the Election Commission can bridge their differences or whether the dispute escalates further.
