"Raises questions about legitimacy of past elections": BJP's Amit Malviya

New Delhi [India], July 23 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya on Wednesday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the Election Commission of India (ECI) requested the state government to delink Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office from state departments.

He questioned the legitimacy of past elections in the state.

This raises serious questions about the legitimacy of past elections, the credibility of the voter roll, and the mandates Mamata Banerjee has claimed over the years. Ironically, it is the same Mamata Banerjee who, while in the opposition, had demanded a clean-up of the voter list, even claiming she had a list of Bangladeshi infiltrators, Malviya posted on X.

Now, as Chief Minister, she is protesting voter list revisions. What is she afraid of? he added.

The ECI has written to the West Bengal government, expressing concerns over the functional independence and administration strengthening of the CEO office in the state, requesting that this be ensured while also demanding the creation of a separate election department.

In a letter addressed to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, the Election Commission has demanded the creation of a separate election department, delinking it from any other department of the state government, including the Home and Hill Affairs (Election) department.

The Commission has noted lack of financial and administrative autonomy available to CEO, West Bengal in the existing arrangement, wherein CEO office functions with limited financial powers relying on a minor permanent advance from the Finance Department. Further, the CEO office has been categorised as a subordinate branch of the Home and Hill Affairs Department, which is led by a Principal Secretary level officer whereas the CEO himself is of ACS rank, the letter read.

Creation of a separate Election Department, completely delinked from any other department of the State Government. 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 signed by EC Under Secretary Ashutosh M.

The EC has also directed that a delegation of suitable financial powers at par with ACS/Pr. Secretary/Secretary of other department be given to the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal.

The constitutional body suggested that a separate Financial Advisor be posted in the Election Department to assist the CEO in effective discharge of his official duties.

On Tuesday, Banerjee accused the Union Government of withholding the state rightful dues worth Rs 1.75 lakh crore.

Speaking to reporters, Mamata said that despite this alleged financial neglect by the Centre, her government is continuing to run 93 social welfare schemes for the people of West Bengal.

The Centre has withheld our rightful funds worth over Rs 1.75 lakh crore. However, with the blessings of the people, we are continuing over 93 social schemes, despite the Centre deprivation, CM Mamata Banerjee said.(ANI)

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