Is ECI weak in West Bengal? A Proven Truth

Jan 26, 2026 - By Ashutosh Roy Current AffairsPolitics

Key Highlights?

1. Is ECI Weak in West Bengal for taking strong action?
2. Is the weakness of the Election Commission due to compulsion or intentional
3. Why does Election Commission call press conference to retort to Rahul Gandhi’s Vote Chori, but suffer from stringent action in West Bengal
4. Is BJP-TMC Setting theory behind the scene?
5. Can the Election Commission of India offer us a valid voter list after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

Is ECI weak in West Bengal: Facts or Myths?

Why is ECI  weak in West Bengal? Or indirectly, has Election Commission of India (ECI) lost their spine in case of West Bengal? Perhaps every citizen of West Bengal will never hesitate in saying, “Yes”.

The notices of ECI over several issues turned out to be much ado about nothing, as we don’t find any implementation. They send directions and hardly follow up. The question remains whether the reason of ECI is weak in West Bengal is compulsion or just intentional.

Compulsion or Intentional weakness for Election Commission (ECI)?

Let us try to unfold the truth. A series of incidents have taken places during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal. The Election Commission has sent several directions, but most of them remained unattended. Surprisingly, the commission refrained from taking any serious follow-up actions on them.

1. ECI summoned Manoj Panth, the contemporary Chief Secretary for non-conformance of their direction of suspension and FIR against some state officials. Manoj Panth had visited the Chief Election Commissioner, but didn’t initiate any FIR against those officials.
2. The mobocracy vandalized the car of the Special Electoral Roll Observer C. Murugan and ECI remained silent.
3. Several Booth Level Officers (BLO) faced attacks from the ruling party hooligans, but the Election Commission never arranged special security forces for them.
4. When the Trinamool Congress attacked several BDO Offices and lawlessness became vivid, the ECI kept astonishingly silent spectator.
5. They had ordered to initiate FIR against Manirul Islam, a TMC MLA for vandalizing BDO Office and the West Bengal Government didn’t act upon it, they also kept mum.

We must admit that the Election Commission has filed an affidavit against Mamata Banerjee off late, which is still waiting for trial.

Why rumor of ECI weak in West Bengal?

On the Contrary, When Rahul Gandhi started raising hue and cry about “Vote Chori” in Karnataka, the Chief Election commissioner immediately retorted back. They organized a joint press conference to justify their stands.

Perhaps such conflicting attitude has got a base. It is off course the political equation that made ECI weak in West Bengal.

Let us closely follow the BJP’s prime agenda. The BJP has been continuously emphasizing on the Congress-free India. On the other hand,

Trinamool Congress is a soft target for them. Evidence shows that reports of a behind-the-scenes arrangement between the BJP and the TMC or so-called BJP-TMC setting theory are now commonplace. Now look it from another angle. Special Intensive Revisions are being conducted in several states simultaneously. None of them has become so much eventful.

Gyanesh Kumar’s Visit

But did Gyanesh Kumar bothered to visit the West Bengal for an On-the-ground observation? No and never. If the Chief Election Commissioner could pay a visit, he could firstly understand the reality. Such a visit on the other hand could boost up the officers involved in this SIR Process.

The Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee and the ruling party Trinamool Congress have been constantly condemning the Election Commission of India (ECI).

They have left no stone unturned to create obstacle to this SIR process at every stage. We all know about the alleged eco system of political leaders, administration and police forces in West Bengal.

As an instance, when the Election Commission has served the notice to the Chief Secretary or the District Magistrate. He could personally initiate the FIR. Perhaps he has limited his duties by sending that direction to another SDO or BDO.

Even the senior IAS officers are such glittering examples of Committed Bureaucracy in West Bengal, they don’t take any action.

West Bengal’s political and governmental dynamics are uniquely different from those of any other state. We can’t forget that the alleged eco system has put everybody as stake holders.

Perhaps West Bengal is the only state, where the application of law and order depends completely upon the directions of the political leaders.

Chief Minister’s role to make ECI weak in West Bengal

When a Chief Minister issues a public challenge to the Election Commission, it raises a serious question. One must consider how fatal the resulting consequences could be for democratic stability. The Chief Ministers had openly threatened the Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The ERO or AERO is just a part of the beneficiary of that eco system.

As the oppositions are still trying for their footholds, the ruling party Trinamool Congress had used that advantage to the hilt during the enumeration form submission stage. There had been allegations of intimidations.

The Election Commission should have been prepared well in advance. Instead, they failed to arrange the minimum-security level for the officials. Had they been able to arrange Central security forces from the beginning, the situation could have been different.

Everyone knows that promptness is the most important criteria for such cryptic and delicate process Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

• If the Election Commission wakes up so later, what better results could we expect?
• Couldn’t the Election Commission see the videos of such calamity from one BDO Office to another?
• What kept them Silent Spectator?
• Why didn’t they take immediate action?

Ultimate Gain from Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

Moreover, we have also stated repeatedly that the anomalies of the Election Commission software have added further fuel to the fire. The Trinamool Congress has latched onto this issue and created turmoil. If the state administration remains in an obstructing mind sets from the beginning, they will try their level best.

Ultimately, the well talked of Special Intensive Revision will come to an end, but the doubt remains how much it can really cleanse.

Latest Update:

25/01/2026

Micro-observer, Dibyendu Borai, was slapped in Kumarganj. The Police remained silent spectator. It pinpoints that the law and order situation does not improve even if the Supreme Court orders.