EC Suspends 7 West Bengal Officials Over Electoral Roll Irregularities

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) suspended seven West Bengal officials for irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
• The officials, serving as assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs), were accused of "serious misconduct, dereliction of duty and misuse of statutory powers."
• West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravarty has been directed to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the suspended personnel.
• The suspensions occur amidst ongoing tensions between the ECI and the state's ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) party regarding the SIR exercise.
• A revised SIR timeline, following a Supreme Court directive, sets the final electoral roll publication for February 28.