Trinamool Congress Raises Objections Against Bhabanipur RO Citing Links With Suvendu Adhikari

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has called for the immediate removal of the returning officer (RO) for the Bhabanipur assembly constituency, alleging a close association with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Suvendu Adhikari. The demand was made in a formal representation submitted to West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal on Friday.

The ruling party claims that the RO, who is also the additional director of land records, has a “documented and close association” with Adhikari, who is contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from Bhabanipur and also running from Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district. According to the TMC, the official previously served as block development officer in Nandigram-II, where his ties with Adhikari were allegedly visible in public engagements.

Highlighting concerns of electoral bias, the TMC said that such associations create a “reasonable apprehension of bias” and “compromise the neutrality” essential for the election process. The party also questioned the RO’s current posting, noting that the position is typically held by more senior officers and suggesting that his appointment may reflect “preferential and motivated deployment” ahead of the elections.

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The TMC underscored the critical responsibilities of a returning officer, which include nomination scrutiny, conduct of polling, and declaration of results. “The RO must be unimpeachably neutral,” the party stressed, citing Article 324 of the Constitution, provisions of the Representation of the People Act, and the Model Code of Conduct, which mandate administrative impartiality during elections.

The party’s representation also pointed out that following an earlier complaint lodged on March 24, the Election Commission requested a panel of three alternative officers from the state government. While the state complied, no decision has been taken yet to replace the RO. Senior TMC leaders Shashi Panja, Aroop Biswas, and Baiswanor Chattopadhyay signed the letter, describing the situation as “constitutionally untenable” and “electorally dangerous.”

The TMC urged the Election Commission to take “immediate, reasoned, and transparent action” to safeguard the integrity of the Bhabanipur elections. Analysts say that the controversy could heighten political tensions in the constituency, which is a high-profile battleground in West Bengal’s ongoing electoral cycle.

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