New Delhi, March 12 The Election Commission appointed returning officers for all 294 assembly constituencies in West Bengal, which is going to polls.
For the first time in West Bengal, the election panel has upgraded returning officers of 152 constituencies to sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs), equivalent or higher-level officers similar to those in the rest of India.
The Election Commission, in a notification issued on Thursday, appointed SDMs, equivalent or higher-level returning officers for all assembly constituencies in the state.
Officials said that at the insistence of the election panel, the West Bengal government has now provided officers of "appropriate seniority" to be appointed as returning officers for the upcoming assembly elections.
Returning officers (ROs) were appointed in the state for the last time in 2023.
Some of the ROs appointed now are from the 2023 batch, while 152 are new, an official explained.
The EC recently visited the state to assess poll preparedness. The assembly elections there can take place in April, along with Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.
The EC and the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal have been at loggerheads on various issues, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters' list.
In Parliament, the opposition parties are planning to seek the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging a partisan approach.