In a move to dismantle the influence of ‘favored’ bureaucrats, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a stern directive to 11 recently removed District Magistrates (DMs) in West Bengal to immediately vacate their official residences. The Gyanesh Kumar-led poll panel emphasized that no interference in the election process would be tolerated.

The ECI noted a troubling trend from previous elections where removed DMs continued to occupy official bungalows, forcing their successors to operate from circuit houses. This created a perception among subordinates that the previous administration would return post-elections, leading to hesitance in following new orders. To curb this, the Commission has mandated a complete physical handover of premises.

The controversy took a legal turn on Friday as the West Bengal government moved the Calcutta High Court. Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee argued that while the EC has the power to transfer officials under the Model Code of Conduct, it lacks the authority to send state officials to other states like Tamil Nadu. Chief Justice Sujoy Pal’s division bench is set to hear the matter on Monday. As the EC maintains its ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against partisan officials, the administrative tug-of-war between Nabanna and New Delhi has reached a boiling point.