On Friday, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, sent a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI). He demanded that the commission immediately file an FIR against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for supposedly blocking free‑and‑fair elections and intimidating public servants.
Adhikari’s complaint focuses on Banerjee’s recent comments, which she made during a media briefing at the state secretariat. The chief minister hinted that a senior official—later identified as Manoj Kumar Agarwal, the CEO of elections in West Bengal—has “several charges of corruption.” Banerjee said she would name the officer when the time was right and warned he should not “act beyond his authority.” She added that the ECI was yet to take over state administrative duties, questioning why the commission was already meeting booth‑level officers.
“The chief minister’s remarks undermine the integrity and independence of the Election Commission,” Adhikari wrote. “They threaten to paralyse the commission’s work and taint the electoral atmosphere.” He urged the ECI to issue directions that would protect the commission’s officers and preserve the independence of the electoral process in West Bengal.
Earlier, on July 28, Banerjee told a gathering of senior administrators that booth officers are state employees and would return to the state government once the election date was announced. Adhikari slammed this statement as misleading and an intimidation tactic aimed at coercing public servants who are legally bound to work under the ECI’s supervision. He said it directly interfered with Article 324 of the Constitution, which guarantees a fair and transparent electoral framework.
As West Bengal approaches its next election, the clash between Adhikari and Banerjee over the ECI’s role and the conduct of elections is drawing sharp attention. Key concerns now focus on the chief minister’s alleged intimidation of electoral officials, the need for an immediate FIR, and the overall integrity of the upcoming elections.
Source: ianslive
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