Ahead of polls, EC takes steps to delink Bengal CEO from state control

WITH the Assembly polls in West Bengal less than a year away, the Election Commission (EC) has taken steps to ensure 'complete independence' of the state's Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office, shifting his workspace to a Central government premises in Kolkata, sources said, while also suggesting Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' list will soon begin in West Bengal too.

- KAUSHIK PRADHAN @ Kolkata

The office of the CEO, West Bengal is under the 'administrative and financial control' of the state's Home and Hill Affairs Department. In a firm directive, the EC has urged the state government to grant full financial and administrative independence to the CEO office. The recent communication to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant by EC under secretary Ashutosh M, emphasizes the need to delink the CEO's functions from the state's home department, especially with Assembly polls scheduled next year.