TMC seeks removal of Bhabanipur RO over alleged ties to Suvendu Adhikari
TMC seeks removal of Bhabanipur RO over alleged ties to Suvendu Adhikari
The Trinamool Congress has urged the immediate removal of the Bhabanipur Returning Officer, citing a close association with BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari and raising neutrality concerns ahead of West Bengal elections.
The Trinamool Congress has demanded the immediate removal of the Bhabanipur Assembly's Returning Officer, alleging a close and documented association with BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari. In a representation to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer, the party argued that such ties raise a reasonable apprehension of bias and compromise the neutrality essential for conducting elections. The TMC said the RO’s perceived closeness to Adhikari could undermine voters’ confidence as ballots are prepared, cast, and counted.
Bhabanipur sits in southern Kolkata, where Adhikari is contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while he is also in the fray from Nandigram. The party pointed out that the RO previously served as block development officer in Nandigram-II, where public engagements allegedly showed proximity to Adhikari. It also questioned the officer’s current posting as additional director of land records, arguing that the position is typically held by more senior officers and could signal preferential deployment ahead of polls.
The TMC invoked constitutional provisions—Article 324 and relevant sections of the Representation of the People Act—to argue that the Election Commission must ensure the Returning Officer is unimpeachably neutral. Emphasising the RO’s critical responsibilities, including nomination scrutiny, polling administration, and result declaration, the party urged the Commission to safeguard the integrity of the process. The development comes as parties sharpen their electoral narratives in the high-stakes Bengal campaign, with the opposition framing admin neutrality as a decisive issue.
The campaign context was underscored by the day-to-day political chatter around Bhabanipur, where party leaders have stressed that a fair and transparent process is essential for legitimacy of the poll outcome. The party maintains that removing a RO with perceived ties to a candidate would be a necessary step to preserve the level playing field ahead of voting.
Overall, the move spotlights the intense scrutiny and debate over election administration in Bengal, with the Commission’s response and any subsequent action likely to become a talking point in the run-up to the polls.
