The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday expressed full faith in the integrity and fairness of Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC) Sudeep Jain, who is in charge of the West Bengal Assembly polls at its headquarters, in the wake of media reports about a TMC MP’s complaint demanding his removal.

The MP had sent the letter to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, a copy of which was forwarded to the ECI.

In a statement, the ECI said all its DECs and other officials posted at its headquarters and those working in the field were “discharging their duties strictly as per the Constitution of India and the various extant rules regarding the conduct of elections”.

“There could be an odd exception here or there, in which case EC takes corrective action immediately. In the immediate case, the Commission has full faith in the integrity and fairness of Sudeep Jain, DEC. Unfortunately, it is not for the first time that a concerted campaign is mounted against senior officers of the Commission on the eve of/during the process of elections,” it stated.

The ECI said the media reports mentioned the allegations cited by the TMC about two decisions taken by Mr. Jain during the 2019 Lok Sabha election, when also he was in charge of the West Bengal elections at the Commission’s headquarters.

“It is clarified that both these decisions were taken by the Commission in the interest of holding free fair and peaceful elections and implemented by the district election machinery under supervision of DEC, Chief Electoral Officer, Police Nodal Officer and other concerned senior officials,” said the ECI.