Kolkata, 17 February (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that the services of seven Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) suspended by the Election Commission of India will not be terminated, though they will be kept away from all election-related duties.
Addressing reporters, Banerjee said the state government would reassign the suspended officials to other departments. “They will not be engaged in any election work, but the state government will deploy them elsewhere. I am confident they will perform better there,” she said.
The Commission had on Monday placed the seven AEROs under suspension over alleged dereliction of duty during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Terming the action unilateral, the Chief Minister alleged that the officials were not given an opportunity to present their case. She further accused the Commission of exerting pressure on election officers and interfering in matters within the state government’s jurisdiction. “The Commission should function in a more democratic manner,” she said.
Sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, however, maintained that the suspensions were carried out in accordance with legal provisions and were based on substantive grounds. According to the sources, the decision followed repeated violations of guidelines prescribed for the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
The sources added that the concerned officials had been cautioned by observers, but failed to comply with the directions despite warnings, prompting disciplinary action.
Banerjee also alleged that artificial intelligence was being used to delete names of genuine voters from the electoral rolls. She indirectly raised questions about a senior technology official associated with the Commission.
The Chief Minister further claimed that certain documents accepted as valid identity proof in other states were not being recognised in West Bengal, alleging differential treatment towards the state.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
