West Bengal government is pushing back against a recent Election Commission of India (ECI) directive to suspend four officials, expressing concerns that such action could have a “demoralizing impact” on its workforce.
The ECI’s order was issued in response to alleged irregularities in the handling of electoral roll applications within two specific constituencies.
The Genesis of the Dispute: Alleged Irregularities and ECI Demands
The disagreement originated from two ECI letters sent on August 5 and August 8, 2025, to the Chief Secretary of West Bengal. These communications referenced a report from the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, which claimed that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and their assistants (AEROs) in the 137-Baruipur Purba and 206-Moyna assembly constituencies had improperly added names to electoral rolls. The report further alleged that these officials had violated data security protocols by sharing their login credentials.
Based on these findings, the ECI mandated the immediate suspension of four officers: Shri Debottam Dutta Choudhury (ERO, 137-Baruipur Purba), Tathagata Mondal (AERO, 137-Baruipur Purba), Shri Biplab Sarkar (ERO, 206-Moyna), and Sudipta Das (AERO, 206-Moyna). The ECI also called for disciplinary proceedings and the filing of criminal charges against them, as well as against a data entry operator, Surojit Halder. An August 8 reminder from the ECI reiterated the demand for a compliance report by August 11.
West Bengal’s Response: Internal Inquiry and “Measured Approach”
In its response, dated August 11, 2025, the West Bengal Chief Secretary’s office acknowledged the ECI’s communication but advocated for a more measured approach. The state’s letter emphasized that an internal inquiry was already underway. It also highlighted that officials often delegate tasks in “good faith” due to their extensive responsibilities. The government characterized the ECI’s demand for immediate suspensions as a potentially “disproportionately harsh measure” that could significantly “demoralize” other officers.
As an interim step, the state government has only removed Sudipta Das and Surojit Halder from their election-related duties. The letter concluded by stating that a final “action taken report will be submitted post completion of enquiry.”
Political Fallout: Accusations and Counter-Accusations
This disagreement has triggered sharp political reactions. Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee argued, “Prime Minister was elected based on same voter list. If the EC now claims there were fake voters in that list then Lok Sabha should be dissolved immediately! EC can then conduct SIR across the nation. But they can’t be selective and say voter list is fine in Gujarat, MP etc and not in Bihar & Bengal.” Conversely, former State BJP President Rahul Sinha criticized the state government’s reluctance to file FIRs, adding that “Not filing an FIR was an attempt to avoid setting a precedent that could be detrimental to the interest of the state.”