Kolkata, July 22 -- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the West Bengal government to establish a separate Election Department, completely delinked from any other department of the government, citing the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) current lack of financial and administrative autonomy.

In the letter sent by ECI Under Secretary Ashutosh M. to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, on Tuesday, the ECI said, "The Commission has noted lack of financial and administrative autonomy available to CEO, West Bengal, in the existing arrangement, wherein CEO's office functions with limited financial powers relying on a minor permanent advance from the Finance Department."

The letter further mentions that the CEO's office has be...