Achieved mixed success despite challenge, says outgoing SEC Pandey

The now-retired election commissioner made headlines by taking on the state government twice.

West Bengal Election Commissioner Meera Pandey, who retired on Monday, said she had been able to convince the people that the state election commission had tried to protect the constitutional rights of the people and that despite bottlenecks, she achieved success on many
occasions.

“It was of course a challenging job for me but I believe I have been able to do it with mixed success. Civic elections are a continuous process and have to be carried out in accordance with legal provisions. I am sure the next commissioner will follow that,” Pandey said.

The now-retired election commissioner made headlines by taking on the state government twice — first during the panchayat elections last year when she dragged the state government to court on the issue of holding elections on time and ensuring central paramilitary forces are present at every booth; and then last month she again took the government to court for holding timely elections in 17 municipal bodies.

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S R Upadhyay, the new commissioner who will take charge on Tuesday, said he will ensure the elections are held as per constitutional provisions and established rules and norms.

“It will be my duty to hold civic elections on time and I am sure I will be able to do that,” Upadhyay, currently special secretary at Raj Bhavan, told The Indian Express.

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