Election Commission Seeks Independent Election Department in Bengal, State Yet to Respond to Autonomy Proposal for CEO
The Election Commission of India has proposed a separate, autonomous election department in West Bengal to grant financial and administrative independence to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). The state government has yet to officially respond to the proposal.
NewsSutra
In a move with significant implications for federal electoral administration, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially proposed the creation of a standalone election department in West Bengal, aiming to grant financial and administrative autonomy to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in the state. The state government, led by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has yet to formally respond to the proposal, even as deliberations continue at multiple bureaucratic levels.
This proposal—currently under review by the West Bengal Secretariat—is part of a larger nationwide effort by the ECI to enhance institutional independence, reduce political interference in electoral administration, and prepare for more digitally driven, high-volume elections across India’s states.
What the ECI is Proposing
The ECI has recommended that the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in West Bengal be restructured as an independent department, with a dedicated secretariat, staff cadre, and a separate budgetary allocation. Currently, the CEO operates under the general administration of the state government, with logistical and personnel dependencies on various state departments.
If accepted, the new model would:
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Establish a permanent Election Department reporting directly to the ECI
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Empower the CEO with independent hiring, budgeting, and decision-making authority
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De-link election administrative support from the General Administration or Home Department, which are often politicised
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Create a buffer against potential conflict of interest during sensitive electoral seasons
According to ECI officials familiar with the plan, the move is designed to “safeguard electoral neutrality and bring greater efficiency to election-related logistics, security coordination, and voter services.”
Why West Bengal?
The focus on West Bengal is particularly notable, given the intensely polarized electoral environment in the state. Recent elections—especially the 2021 Assembly polls and subsequent civic elections—have been marred by allegations of violence, bias in local administration, and logistical challenges in deploying central forces.
During the 2021 elections, the ECI faced repeated accusations from the ruling TMC of acting in concert with the BJP, while opposition parties alleged that state machinery obstructed free campaigning and influenced law enforcement.
In this backdrop, the ECI’s move to formalise the CEO’s independence in West Bengal could be seen as a preventive step to enhance trust in the electoral process ahead of the 2026 state elections.
Legal and Administrative Framework
The ECI’s authority to make such a proposal stems from Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, which empowers the Commission to supervise, direct, and control elections across India. While the appointment of a CEO is made in consultation with the state, operational autonomy has remained a grey area—one the ECI now wishes to clarify through institutional restructuring.
A policy note shared by the ECI to the state government references successful models in other states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, where election departments function semi-autonomously with clearly demarcated financial and staffing structures.
According to experts at PRS Legislative Research, there is legal room for such a restructuring as long as it complies with service rules and does not undermine the state's general administrative control.
State Government’s Stand: Silence and Strategy?
As of July 26, 2025, the West Bengal government has not issued any official reply to the Election Commission’s proposal. Sources within Nabanna (state secretariat) suggest that the matter is being “internally evaluated” by the Chief Secretary and legal advisors, but no formal movement has occurred.
A senior bureaucrat, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated:
“There are reservations about ceding administrative authority to a centrally directed office, especially given the politically sensitive climate in Bengal.”
Political observers note that the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government has historically been wary of any perceived intrusion by central authorities, particularly in matters of governance and security. Accepting the proposal without negotiation could be seen as conceding space to the BJP-led central government—a move the TMC would want to avoid before the Lok Sabha elections in 2026.
Potential Impacts if Approved
If West Bengal accepts the ECI’s proposal, the new department could become operational by early 2026, well before the Assembly elections. The impact would be multi-fold:
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Faster Electoral Planning: With dedicated staff and funds, the CEO’s office can implement early preparedness drills, conduct updated voter awareness campaigns, and coordinate with central security forces more seamlessly.
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Reduced Political Pressure: A stand-alone department is likely to insulate election officers from informal interference by political parties or local administration.
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Improved Voter Services: Services like voter ID issuance, electoral roll updates, and Grievance Redressal could be better managed with autonomous control.
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Institutional Benchmarking: West Bengal could set a precedent for other politically complex states such as Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, where similar demands for electoral autonomy have been quietly discussed.
Experts at Centre for Policy Research (CPR) argue that India’s electoral machinery needs “structural resilience, not just operational efficiency,” especially as elections become more competitive and digitally monitored.
Opposition and Civil Society Reactions
Opposition parties in West Bengal, including the BJP, Congress, and CPI(M), have cautiously welcomed the proposal. In a press briefing in Siliguri, state BJP President Sukanta Majumdar said:
“This is a much-needed reform to prevent state machinery from being misused during elections. We urge the state government to act responsibly and support electoral transparency.”
However, civil society groups have raised questions about whether such centralisation, if unchecked, could lead to erosion of state autonomy.
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), while supporting the idea of financial independence for CEOs, has called for parliamentary oversight and public consultation before implementing major structural reforms.
Challenges to Implementation
Even if approved, the path to implementing the standalone department would require resolving several logistical and administrative challenges:
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Recruitment of Skilled Personnel: A dedicated cadre of officers would need to be trained and deployed for election operations
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Budgetary Allocation: Coordination between state and central finance departments would be necessary to assign and monitor funding
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Coordination with Existing Departments: Clear demarcation would be required to avoid overlapping responsibilities with Home, IT, and Administrative Departments
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Legal Amendments: Service rules for deputed officers may need modification to maintain accountability to both the state and central frameworks
Until these issues are addressed, the proposal will remain a policy aspiration rather than an operational reality.
Looking Ahead: Reform or Rift?
The ECI’s proposal comes at a time when public confidence in democratic institutions is under scrutiny. Enhancing the neutrality of the CEO’s office in politically sensitive states like West Bengal could reinforce the credibility of elections, but only if executed with transparency and cooperation.
The ball is now in the court of the West Bengal government. Whether it will collaborate, negotiate, or reject the proposal remains to be seen—but the decision could shape not just the 2026 Assembly elections, but the broader relationship between state governments and the ECI going forward.
