The Trinamool Congress (TMC) intensified its dispute with the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday by officially filing a complaint against Manoj Agarwal, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal. The party accused him of exhibiting “biased and partisan behavior” favoring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the lead-up to the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections.
This issue arose following CEO Agarwal’s visit to Nandigram on April 5. During a press conference at the TMC headquarters on Tuesday, party leaders Chandrima Bhattacharya and Kunal Ghosh claimed that Agarwal’s actions breached the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) as well as Sections 129 and 134 of the Representation of the People Act.
The TMC contended that the CEO predominantly interacted with individuals perceived as supporters of the BJP and that he was seen in Hindu-majority regions alongside Tapan Kumar Mahapatra, who serves as the BJP convener for Kalicharanpur.
“This issue is not merely about where a government official can go, but rather about who accompanies them,” stated Chandrima Bhattacharya. “When electoral authorities are seen alongside political figures, it undermines public trust in the impartiality of the electoral process.”
Additionally, the TMC referenced previous occurrences involving other officials to illustrate a systemic issue regarding neutrality, naming various observers, including Dheeraj Kumar (general observer for Gazole), Ajay Katesaria (general observer for Bangaon Dakshin), Gandam Chandrudu (general observer for Ballygunge), and Arindam Dakua (general observer for Madhyamgram).
Kunal Ghosh further accused the ECI of operating in favor of the BJP, alleging a systematic manipulation of voter lists. He claimed that genuine local voters are being removed while names from outside the state are being inserted.
The TMC described the CEO’s behavior as an “undue influence” and a misuse of authority by a government official aimed at swaying voters. The party called for the ECI to issue an immediate show-cause notice to Agarwal, conduct a formal investigation into his actions, and relieve him of his duties as CEO to ensure fair elections.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the ECI had not made any official statement regarding the allegations.
Jigisha Seal is an intern with The Indian Express.
Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram.
