Central Observers: A Crucial Directive for West Bengal Elections

The Election Commission has rejected West Bengal's request to exempt 25 IAS and IPS officers from central observer training in New Delhi for the upcoming Assembly elections. The EC emphasized the training's importance in ensuring proper monitoring and fair elections, despite the state's concerns about local law and order disruptions.

The Election Commission has firmly rejected a request from the West Bengal government to exempt 25 senior officials from attending a central observer training session in New Delhi, according to a senior official's statement on Wednesday. The directive includes allowing no exceptions, even for top officials like Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena.

A source from the Chief Electoral Officer's office revealed that these officials are mandated to attend sessions on February 5 and 6. The EC has expressed the need for urgent communication of this requirement to prevent any misunderstandings, asserting the importance of the officers' participation for effective polling supervision.

This development comes amid rising tensions between the state administration and the EC concerning the deployment of central observers across several states, including West Bengal. The commission had requested a list, but West Bengal's plea for 17 exemptions citing administrative concerns was declined, emphasizing the necessity for rigorous and impartial election monitoring.

(With inputs from agencies.)