India, July 23 -- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked the West Bengal government to make the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) financially and administratively independent, a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee threatened to launch 'gherao movement' against the poll body over the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

In what would lead to a fresh tussle between the CM and ECI, the poll body sent a letter to state Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on July 17 underlining that West Bengal is the only state where CEO's office functions under the Home and Hill Affairs Department, The Telegraph reported.

The letter further says the election department must have a "dedicated budget head" which will give financial and a...