In a first, EC appoints officers of SDM level & above as returning officers for Bengal polls

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission, in a first for West Bengal, upgraded the returning officers (ROs) across its 152 assembly constituencies to the level of sub divisional magistrate (SDM) or sub divisional officer (SDO) and above, in line with norms followed in the rest of the country.This is seen as a boost to free and fair assembly elections in the state as the senior officers are seen as less prone to bias and partisan conduct, particularly towards the ruling side. Sources termed the move as historic as West Bengal was the only state where the ROs were of the level lower than or equivalent to the SDM since Independence, when every other state/UT was providing officers of SDM/sub-divisional officer (SDO) level and above. "West Bengal is the only state that did not honour the EC instructions dated 26.06.2023 in this regard and had been providing junior officers at the level of block development officer (BDO) etc for appointment as RO. EC had sent reminders to West Bengal govt on January 20 and February 2, 2026, to correct this," said an EC official. Finally, on EC's insistence, the state govt consented to spare officers of the requisite seniority as returning officers. Based on this, the EC on Thursday issued the notification appointing ROs for all 294 assembly constituencies for the forthcoming assembly polls, including for the 152 constituencies where the state had earlier offered junior officers.