ECI following Sandeshkhali crisis closely, daily reports being sent from Bengal CEO to Delhi HQ

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is closely monitoring the situation in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, has begun sending daily reports on the developments in Sandeshkhali to the ECI’s headquarters in New Delhi.

The reports will include observations from national commissions, statements by political leaders, comments from general and police administrations, news reports, and on-ground developments in the troubled zones. Officials from the CEO’s office will meet with officials from North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts on February 28 to discuss the Sandeshkhali developments.

The upcoming visit of the full Bench of the ECI to West Bengal in early March adds significance to these developments. The ECI is reportedly scrutinizing the role of a section of the state police administration following adverse observations regarding “neutrality” by the Calcutta High Court and Governor CV Ananda Bose.

The unrest in Sandeshkhali stems from protests by local women over alleged sexual harassment by associates of Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, who is also the accused mastermind behind the attack on ED and CAPF sleuths on January 5 in the area.

The situation in Sandeshkhali has drawn the attention of the ECI and other national authorities, given its potential impact on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The ECI’s close monitoring and the upcoming visit of its full Bench to West Bengal indicate the seriousness with which these developments are being viewed.