Kolkata, April 4: As preparations for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections intensify, controversy surrounding electoral fairness has escalated. On Saturday, Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition BJP in the West Bengal Assembly, wrote a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal.
In his letter, Adhikari called for the immediate removal and transfer of Kolkata police officials, including Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas, Inspector Bijitaswa Raut, and Sub-Inspector Rahul Amin Ali Shah, citing their alleged bias.
The letter claims that despite the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, these officials attended a state conference of the West Bengal Police Welfare Committee, where they referred to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as their ‘patron’ and urged support for the TMC’s victory. A video was attached to substantiate this claim. Adhikari accused these officials of attempting to influence the police force in favor of the TMC, undermining the integrity of the electoral process.
Previously, on March 9, 2026, a complaint against Shantanu Sinha Biswas was filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI), but no action was taken. Concerns were raised during the 2021 elections when his transfer occurred only after voting concluded. The letter also mentions the promotions and service extensions of these officials, along with their assignments related to the Kalighat police station.
Shantanu Sinha Biswas was scheduled to retire on August 31, 2025, but his tenure was extended by two years. The ECI had transferred him to the Directorate of Economic Offenses in 2021, yet he continued to operate from Kalighat. Adhikari urged the ECI to transfer these officials out of West Bengal until the elections conclude to maintain law and order and ensure a fair voting process.
Along with the letter, Adhikari submitted 18 recommendations for electoral reforms. These include completing the voting process in one or two phases instead of the currently proposed seven to eight lengthy phases. He also suggested reinstating officials transferred by the ECI during the last three elections: the 2019 Lok Sabha, 2021 Assembly, and 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Other recommendations involve identifying sensitive polling booths that experienced violence during or after voting in the last three elections, where over 85% voter turnout was recorded. It was suggested that the reliance on state police be reduced by deploying a sufficient number of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) well in advance to familiarize them with local areas.
Furthermore, strict instructions should be given to the CAPF’s nodal officers to ensure proper movement of forces and to prevent CAPF personnel from accepting any hospitality from locals, as seen in previous elections. General and police observers should be deployed well ahead of the elections to allow them to familiarize themselves with their areas for independent assessments.
Additionally, polling stations in large residential complexes should be established within the same building, as stipulated by the Election Commission’s guidelines. A complete ban on the West Bengal Police Welfare Organization should be enforced, sealing all its offices and operational areas.
The Election Commission of India announced the election schedule for West Bengal and four other states/Union Territories on March 15, 2026. Voting in West Bengal will take place in two phases, on April 23 for 152 seats and on April 29 for 142 seats, with counting set for May 4.
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