ECI slams AERO’s resignation as ‘Meaningless,’ flags disciplinary action
The Statesman | 11 January 2026
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday issued a sharp response to the resignation of Mousam Sarkar, Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) of Bagnan Assembly constituency, describing the move as “meaningless” and an act of “gross indiscipline, insubordination and disrespect to a constitutional body.”
The response came barely a couple of days after Sarkar sent in his resignation, objecting to the “logical discrepancy” guidelines under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a post on its official X handle, the ECI said Sarkar was posted by the West Bengal government as Block Disaster Management Officer (BDMO), a post that also functions as Election Officer (EO), AERO, at Bagnan Assembly Constituency.
“In case of any grievance he should have informed his superiors including the DEO Howrah through proper channels,” the commission said.
The ECI further stated that Sarkar, being a Group-B officer, was fully aware that his “so-called resignation letter is meaningless.”
It noted that he could have sought a transfer, or the District Election Officer (DEO), Howrah, could have proposed another designated post as AERO in place of BDMO.
“The entire episode smacks of gross indiscipline, insubordination and disrespect to a constitutional body,” the commission said in the X post.
The poll body also pointed out that Sarkar was on “deemed deputation” to the ECI under Sections 13C and 13CC of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and warned that “appropriate action will be initiated against him as per the rules.”
The ECI’s response follows Sarkar’s resignation letter submitted on 8 January to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), Achintyakumar Mondal, who acknowledged receipt of the letter.
Sarkar’s resignation has intensified the controversy surrounding SIR and the “logical discrepancy” exercise.
In his letter, Sarkar had argued that the discrepancies being flagged—such as variations in spelling of names or age—were largely based on outdated data, some dating back to 2002.
He claimed that many of these errors had already been corrected by voters over the years through Form 8, as per Election Commission rules, leading to apparent mismatches in current records.
Currently posted as an officer in the Block Disaster Management department of Bagnan-II block, Sarkar was scheduled to oversee hearings on logical discrepancies in the block from January 14, involving around 24,000 cases.
He chose to step down from his AERO role just days before the hearings were to begin.
In his resignation letter, Sarkar said the process lacked any “realistic basis” and alleged that it could lead to the exclusion of a large section of voters, particularly from marginalised communities.
He argued that while voters often possess documents such as Voter ID cards, Aadhaar cards and ration cards, these were not being accepted, and instead as many as 12 other documents were being sought—documents many from poorer sections do not have.
“As a responsible citizen, I believe such logical discrepancies have no meaning. Under the guise of resolution, there is an attempt to cancel the votes of a large section of people, especially the marginalised,” Sarkar wrote, adding that the process could cause “severe hardship” to ordinary citizens.
Explaining his decision, Sarkar said he could not, “in good conscience,” continue in the role. “I cannot be dishonest with the people of the country and with the country itself. That is why I have sought to be relieved from this post,” he had said.