Bengal governor C.V. Ananda Bose is yet to approve the Mamata Banerjee dispensation’s proposal to appoint former chief secretary Rajiva Sinha as the new state election commissioner who will have to take charge on May 29.
“The tenure of the incumbent, Sourav Das, will come to an end on May 29 and the new poll panel chief has to take over on the same day as the position cannot be left vacant.... It is a matter of concern that Raj Bhavan has not yet given its seal of approval on the proposal,” said a senior bureaucrat.
A section of the administration is worried that it is another conflict between Raj Bhavan and Nabanna. While some others think that it’s just a matter of time before the name gets cleared by Bose.
“The governor, who is a former bureaucrat, knows the importance of appointing the successor to Das before his tenure comes to an end. Raj Bhavan has asked some questions and Nabanna will send replies as early as possible,” said a source.
Sources said the tenure of Das had come to an end on March 30 but he was allowed to continue for another two months since the West Bengal Panchayat (Amendment) Act, 1992, gives a two-month window to appoint a new state election commissioner.
“Initially, the chief minister wanted to hold panchayat elections keeping Das at the helm of the state poll panel. This is because Das has vast experience related to rural elections since he had been panchayat secretary for nearly 10 years. As the government had initially planned to hold rural polls by the third week of May, Das was allowed to continue in the post by delaying the selection of the new poll panel chief,” said an official.
Since the polls could not be held by May, the government has to select a new state chief election commissioner.
“If the state wanted to continue with Das till the rural polls, the panchayat act of1992 had to be amended. As the Assembly was not in session, the government could have promulgated an ordinance. But the state was not sure if the ordinance would get the assent of the governor,” said a source.
