'Go back home': Election review turns tense as officer confronts CEC, loses post

A high-level election review meeting turned tense on Wednesday after a senior election observer confronted Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar during a virtual interaction.

The meeting, convened by the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI), saw Cooch Behar South general observer Anurag Yadav objecting to remarks made by the CEC. According to sources, the situation escalated when Kumar told the officer to "go back home".

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Yadav, a principal secretary-rank officer with the Uttar Pradesh government, responded sharply, "You can't treat us like this. We have given 25 years to the service. You can't speak like this."

The exchange reportedly led to a brief silence before the meeting resumed.

Removal follows shortly after

Soon after the incident, Yadav was removed from his post as general observer. However, Election Commission sources maintained that the decision was not linked to the confrontation.

Officials stated that the removal was due to "professional incompetence". During the meeting, Yadav was reportedly unable to provide accurate answers to basic questions, including the number of polling booths in his constituency.

A senior EC official was quoted as saying by The Times of India, "An observer is the eyes and ears of the Commission. If an officer, after spending several days on the ground, cannot verify basic details like the number of polling stations, it raises serious questions about the integrity of the process."

Focus on poll preparedness in Bengal

The review meeting also covered issues related to election preparedness in West Bengal, including vulnerable polling booths in Cooch Behar. Suggestions such as imposing prohibitory orders in sensitive areas were discussed by officials, including Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal.

Amid heightened political activity, the Election Commission also issued a strong message to the Trinamool Congress.

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In a post on X dated April 8, the Commission said, "ECI's Straight-talk to Trinamool Congress

This time, the Elections in West Bengal would surely be :

Fear-free,

Violence-free,

Intimidation-free

and without any Chappa, Booth Jamming and Source Jamming."

The developments come as preparations intensify ahead of upcoming elections in the state.