In the backdrop of the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal demanding the removal of Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain, raising doubts about his impartiality, the Election Commission on Friday put its weight behind him, saying it had full faith in his integrity and fairness.
In reaction to a complaint made by Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien in a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, which was forwarded to the ECI headquarters, the Commission said it would like to categorically state that all its Deputy Election Commissioners and other officials posted either in head office or working in the field are discharging their duties strictly as per the Constitution of India and the various extant rules regarding the conduct of elections.
The Commission said there could be an odd exception here or there in which case it takes corrective action immediately. It, however, said in the immediate case it has full faith in the integrity and fairness of Jain.
“Unfortunately, it is not for the first time that a concerted campaign is mounted against senior officers of the Commission on the eve of/during the process of elections,” the Commission said in a statement.
The allegations cited by the Trinamool pertained to two decisions taken by Jain during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when also he was the Deputy Election Commissioner in-charge at ECI of West Bengal Elections.
“It is clarified that both these decisions were taken by the Commission in the interest of holding free fair and peaceful elections and implemented by the district election machinery under supervision of DEC, Chief Electoral Officer, Police Nodal Officer and other concerned senior officials,” the EC said.
