The Election Commission of India is examining a report sent by West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty. The report is about steps taken on the Commission’s directions related to election work. This includes higher payment for booth-level officers (BLOs) and action against officials accused of breaking rules during the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists.
Officials said the report was submitted before the 5:00 PM deadline on Monday, February 16. The Commission is currently on an official visit to Assam. It will study the report after returning. West Bengal is likely to face Assembly elections in the coming weeks, so preparations are being closely watched.
At a meeting held on February 13, the Commission had asked the state to release the revised honorarium for BLOs and their supervisors without delay. It also directed payment for officials involved in the voter list revision work. The Commission had earlier increased the annual payment for BLOs and supervisors. It also approved honorarium for electoral registration officers and assistant electoral registration officers to strengthen ground-level election work.
The Commission had also ordered that FIRs be filed against officials who are found to have deliberately violated election rules. It has stressed the need for accountability, transparency and clean voter rolls before the Assembly polls.
The review of the state’s response will help the Commission assess how prepared West Bengal is for the upcoming elections and whether its directions are being properly followed.
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