Bengal crisis: Governor refuses to accept joining letter of poll panel chief after HC rebuke

An administrative crisis has emerged in West Bengal following Governor CV Ananda Bose's reported refusal to accept the joining letter of State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha.

This development comes shortly after the Calcutta High Court criticized Sinha, urging him to step down if he found it difficult to follow orders regarding the deployment of Central forces for the panchayat elections.

Rajiva Sinha, a former chief secretary, assumed the role of State Election Commissioner on June 7 after receiving approval from the Governor. The subsequent announcement of the panchayat elections by Sinha was met with criticism from opposition parties, who deemed it a hasty decision.

Sources from Raj Bhavan confirmed that the Governor had attempted to meet Sinha after his appointment, but their meeting did not materialize. Following the High Court's admonishment of the State Election Commissioner and the subsequent refusal by the Governor to accept Sinha's joining letter, an unprecedented constitutional crisis has unfolded.

Senior officials from the state government expressed concern over the situation and mentioned consultations with legal experts and top officials to determine the next course of action.

The Governor's decision came in the wake of strong observations from the Calcutta High Court. The court directed the election commission to deploy a minimum of 825 companies of Central forces within 24 hours, a number equivalent to the forces deployed during the 2013 panchayat elections. The court expressed disappointment in the SEC's requisition of only 22 companies, leading to its reprimand of the commissioner.

The court emphasized the need for neutrality and expressed its faith in the SEC while urging him to adhere to the Supreme Court's judgment on the matter. The court also warned that if it became difficult for the commissioner to follow orders, he should step down and allow for the appointment of a replacement. It further suggested that if the SEC was unable to fulfill its duties, the court would handle the matter.

The High Court's earlier order on June 13 had directed the SEC to requisition Central forces for deployment in sensitive districts and assess the situation for deployment in other districts. Dissatisfied with the delay in compliance, the court issued a subsequent order on June 15, directing the deployment of Central forces in all districts.

The SEC and the West Bengal government had approached the Supreme Court, which dismissed their petitions, stressing that conducting elections should not be a license for violence.