In a escalating row over West Bengal’s upcoming assembly polls, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has written to the Election Commission, exposing what he calls a ‘premeditated plot’ to skew the process in Kasba constituency, South 24 Parganas.
Taking to X, Adhikari detailed how contract employees from the ISGPP Cell under Panchayat and Rural Development, linked to Zilla Parishad, have been deployed as sector officers and assistants via a memo from Returning Officer Purnima Dey dated April 10, 2026. ‘ECI rules clearly stipulate permanent staff for such critical duties to uphold neutrality,’ he argued, slamming the appointments as a breach of model code of conduct.
The controversy deepened with revelations of tampered designations. These workers were first named sector officers, then downgraded amid backlash, yet their roles remain unchanged—using non-standard titles alien to ECI norms. Adhikari warned this could compromise voter trust and poll fairness.
Demanding swift ECI action to revoke the order and penalize officials, Adhikari framed it as a safeguard for democracy. ‘No room for administrative mischief in elections,’ he declared. The issue spotlights broader concerns over staffing in sensitive areas, fueling opposition narratives against the state machinery.
As Bengal’s political landscape braces for battle, such disputes could influence voter sentiment. The ECI now faces pressure to investigate and enforce guidelines rigorously, ensuring the electoral battlefield remains level.
