Following the Election Commission of India’s decision to suspend seven Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) in West Bengal, Union MoS Sukanta Majumdar stated that strict action would be taken against officials displaying bias. The suspended officials were accused of attempting to include ineligible voters in the electoral rolls, going against rules and lacking justification. Majumdar emphasized the importance of impartiality in officials’ actions, highlighting the role of technology in verifying records and detecting irregularities.
He stressed the need for officials to adhere to democratic principles and maintain fairness in their duties. Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, supported the ECI’s move to suspend the AEROs, commending the decision. Adhikari criticized the suspended officials for accepting fake school certificates and PAN cards during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, alleging violations of Election Commission guidelines. He further claimed that these malpractices were orchestrated by the Mamata Banerjee government.
Adhikari accused the state government of pressuring officials to engage in such activities, pointing fingers at specific individuals allegedly involved in the wrongdoing. The ECI’s actions were seen as a significant step in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in West Bengal, with warnings issued to officials against biased conduct.
