ECI Rejects Bengal’s Exemption Plea, Calls 25 IAS and IPS Officers for Election Observer Briefing

The Election Commission of India has turned down the West Bengal government’s request to exempt 25 IAS and IPS officers from election duty and has asked them to report to New Delhi for a briefing starting today and continuing tomorrow. The officers will be deployed as observers for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

According to officials, the West Bengal government had earlier ignored multiple requests from the Commission to submit a list of senior IAS and IPS officers for observer appointments. In response, the Election Commission went ahead and finalised its own list, which includes senior officers from the state. Among those named is West Bengal Home Secretary Jagadish Prasad Meena.