Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Thursday wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking exemption for nine IAS officers, including State Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena, from being deployed as Central election observers in poll-bound states and Union Territories such as West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
In its communication, the state government cited law and order challenges and administrative exigencies, stressing the need to retain senior officers within the state to ensure smooth governance during a sensitive period.
ECI Had Named 15 IAS and 10 IPS Officers From Bengal
The development comes a day after the Election Commission released a list of 15 IAS and 10 IPS officers from West Bengal selected for deployment as Central observers in the upcoming Assembly elections in the poll-bound states.
The state government, however, flagged concerns over the large number of senior officers being deputed simultaneously, stating that it could impact core administrative and security functions within Bengal.
Officers for Whom Exemption Has Been Sought
Apart from Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena, the Bengal government has requested exemption for the following IAS officers:
- Sanjay Bansal
- P Mohangandhi
- Avanindra Singh
- Saumitra Mohan
- Shubhanjan Das
- P B Salim
- Rachna Bhagat
- P Ulaganathan
According to sources at Nabanna, these officers are currently holding key administrative responsibilities, making their continued presence in the state essential.
Complete List of IAS Officers Named by ECI
The original list of IAS officers from Bengal identified by the ECI for Central observer duty included:
- Jagdish Prasad Meena
- Asvini Kumar Yadav
- P B Salim
- Avanindra Singh
- Saumitra Mohan
- Smaraki Mahapatra
- Archana
- Sanjay Bansal
- P Mohangandhi
- Shubhanjan Das
- P Ulaganathan
- Saurav Pahari
- Rachna Bhagat
- Ritendra Narayan Basu Roy Chowdhury
- Rajanvir Singh Kapur
Alternative Panel Sent to Election Commission
As part of its request, the state government has also submitted an alternative list of IAS officers to the ECI. The names included in the alternative panel are:
- Rajiv Kumar
- Abhinav Chandra
- Niranjan Kumar
- Dr Viswanath
- Apala Seth
- Tapas Kumar Bagchi
- Sasim Kumar Barai
- Sonam Bhutia
- R Arjun
Two IPS Officers Seek Release From Observer Duty
Meanwhile, two IPS officers named for Central observer duties – Bharat Lal Meena and Rishikesh Meena – have also sought exemption from the Election Commission, citing personal and professional reasons, sources said.
Row Over Transfer of Roll Observers During SIR Process
In another significant development, Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravarty on Tuesday responded to a strong communication from the Election Commission, which had objected to the transfer of three senior IAS officers associated with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state without prior approval of the Commission.
According to Nabanna sources, the officers were transferred to ease the heavy workload they were handling and were subsequently assigned comparatively lighter responsibilities.
ECI Directed Cancellation of Transfer Orders
The Election Commission had directed the immediate cancellation of the transfer orders of the following officers and sought a compliance report by 3 pm on January 28:
- Ashwini Kumar Yadav, Electoral Roll Observer for North and South Dinajpur
- Randhir Kumar, in charge of North 24 Parganas and Kolkata North
- Smita Pandey, responsible for West Burdwan, East Burdwan and Birbhum
The state government expressed hope that the Commission would take note of its explanation and acknowledge the administrative reasoning behind the transfers.
Administrative Tensions Ahead of Polls
The developments underline growing administrative tensions between the state government and the Election Commission as preparations intensify for the upcoming Assembly elections. Observers say the ECI’s final decision on exemptions and transfers will be closely watched in the coming days.
