In a landmark move ahead of the West Bengal polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued an order to temporarily restrain political appointees who are holding the office of Administrators in West Bengal’s urban local bodies, despite the end of their elected term to participate in functions of the Board during the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.
In its two-page order issued on Saturday, the EC asserted that the move was being taken in order to avoid a situation where ‘critical functions’ of the urban local bodies are actually discharged, thereby leveling ‘the playing field during the operation of the Model Code of Conduct and ensuring impartiality during the election process.’ The EC further mentioned that the move is being taken in order to
Issuing 4 sets of directions, the EC said, “A committee headed by Chief Secretary, West Bengal, and Principal Secretary Urban Development, and Principal Secretary Personnel as members shall appoint the government officials, keeping in view ECI’s instructions to discharge functions of the Administrators/Head of Board of Administrator, as the case may be, during the period of Model Code of Conduct.”
ECI issues order to temporarily restrain political appointees, who are holding office of Administrators in West Bengal on appointment basis after end of their elected term, from participating in/exercising functions of Board during the period Model Code of Conduct is in force. pic.twitter.com/HvAomuBg1C
— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2021
Meanwhile, BJP once again approached the ECI, on March 20, against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The party accused her of running a ‘smear campaign’ against Shah, and demanded legal action against her comment – “Who is running the election commission, Amit Shah, are you running the election commission?”
