Kolkata, March 12 The Election Commission appointed officials from the West Bengal government as returning officers for all 294 constituencies in the state, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Sub-divisional officers, district-level officers, and other senior administrative officers have been assigned the role of returning officers, according to a notification.
Assembly elections are likely to be held in West Bengal in April.
The notification stated that the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Mekliganj has been appointed returning officer for the Mekliganj (SC) assembly constituency, while the SDO of Mathabhanga will serve as returning officer for Mathabhanga (SC) constituency.
Similarly, the District Panchayat and Rural Development Officer of Cooch Behar has been designated returning officer for Coochbehar Uttar (SC), and the SDO (Sadar) of Cooch Behar for the Coochbehar Dakshin constituency.
In the Kolkata region, officials from the land records and survey department, the district election office, and other administrative wings have been assigned returning officer responsibilities for constituencies such as the Kolkata Port, Bhabanipur, Rashbehari, Ballygunge, and Chowrangee, the notification said.
Across districts, a mix of sub-divisional officers, additional district magistrates, district planning officers, project directors of district rural development cells, and other administrative officials have been entrusted with the task, it said.
Returning officers play a key role in the conduct of elections, including scrutinizing nomination papers, overseeing the polling process, and declaring results in their respective constituencies, it said.
The designation of returning officers is a routine administrative step undertaken ahead of assembly elections or by-elections.
