Amid SIR Row, EC Pushes Bengal To Fill Poll Vacancies Before Elections

Last Updated:August 28, 2025, 19:44 IST

As of now, there are as many as 610 Assistant ERO (AERO) posts lying vacant in the state.

Election Commission Of India (PTI)

The Election Commission (EC) has directed the Chief Secretary and the District Election Officers (DEOs) in West Bengal to fill key election-related posts that had been vacant for months in the state and to assess the current status of appointments to the posts of electoral registration officers (EROs) and assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs) ahead of the elections in the state.

Responding to the EC’s directions, the West Bengal government set a Friday deadline for the purpose, reported PTI, citing an official. This comes following a meeting held at the secretariat on Wednesday.

An Election Commission of India (ECI) official stated that only Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) should be appointed as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). If SDOs are unavailable, senior WBCS officers can be assigned.

Currently, there are 610 Assistant ERO (AERO) posts lying vacant. Typically, AEROs are chosen from extension officers or block-level officers from various departments.

The official added that officers of equivalent rank from other departments may be given the responsibility, with the ECI’s approval.

“It has been decided that officers of equivalent rank from other departments may be entrusted with the role, subject to Election Commission approval," he said.

The number of polling booths in the state has increased to almost 95,000, requiring more booth-level officers (BLOs), the poll official said.

According to the official, the state government has started appointing additional BLOs with the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) approval.

Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her...Read More

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her...

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West Bengal, India, India

First Published:

August 28, 2025, 19:42 IST

News india Amid SIR Row, EC Pushes Bengal To Fill Poll Vacancies Before Elections

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