Kolkata, 04 February (H.S.): In a significant setback to the West Bengal government, the Election Commission has rejected Nabanna’s request and directed 25 senior state officials to mandatorily participate in special election-related training. The list includes 15 Indian Administrative Service officers and 10 Indian Police Service officers, among them West Bengal Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena.

Sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said the officers have been instructed to attend briefing meetings as per the prescribed schedule. The meetings for central observers will be held in New Delhi on February 5 and 6. The Election Commission has made it clear that the state government’s request seeking exemption of these officers from election-related duties has been turned down.

Tensions between the state government and the Election Commission have persisted since the start of the Special Intensive Revision process. In view of the upcoming Assembly elections, 25 senior officers from West Bengal have been selected as central observers for elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The state government had argued that deputing these top administrative and police officers outside the state ahead of elections could adversely affect law and order and administrative functioning. On this basis, the state had sought exemption for 17 of the 25 officers from the assignment.

However, the Election Commission did not accept the state’s argument and directed all the nominated officers to attend the special election training and discharge their responsibilities as central observers. The decision is likely to further intensify the ongoing standoff between the state government and the Commission.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh