No response yet from Mamata government to ECI letter on CEO autonomy

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to receive an official response from the West Bengal government to a July 17 letter recommending functional independence and administrative strengthening of the state's chief electoral officer (CEO), including the creation of a separate election department, sources told ET.

However, the state government is likely to accelerate pending appointments in the chief electoral office and may expedite the time taken for financial sanctions.

In its letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, the ECI proposed several recommendations, including the creation of a separate election department.


"The Election Department should have a dedicated budget head. This will facilitate full financial and administrative autonomy to the CEO, as required for the effective and impartial conduct of elections," the letter states.

"Formation of a separate Election Department under the state government, which exists in many states across the country, will simply expedite the process of approvals and will be very effective during the coming assembly polls," an EC official told ET.

The state government, however, is still examining the ECI's demand for an "independent election department."