Kolkata, April 4: Amid the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has raised concerns regarding the fairness of the electoral process in the Bhawanipur constituency. The party has sent a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner alleging that the current Returning Officer, Surjit Roy, has close ties with political candidates, suggesting a biased appointment.
In the letter, TMC highlighted that Surjit Roy previously served as the Block Development Officer for Nandigram-11, and his connections with BJP leader and candidate Suvendu Adhikari are well-documented. This relationship raises doubts about the impartiality of the election process, making it challenging for the commission and voters to ensure fair conduct.
Furthermore, it was noted that Surjit Roy’s current position as Additional Director (Land Records) does not align with his seniority level. Given the timing of his appointment and the electoral context, it appears biased. TMC has called for immediate action from the Election Commission, demanding the removal of Surjit Roy from all electoral responsibilities and the appointment of a senior, impartial officer without political affiliations as the Returning Officer for Bhawanipur.
The Election Commission has been urged to act swiftly to ensure that the elections in Bhawanipur are conducted with complete fairness.
Additionally, the Election Commission suspended Jyotsna Khatun, the Joint Block Development Officer and Assistant Returning Officer for the Khanda Ghosh Development Block, on Friday due to serious negligence in duty.
Election Commission Secretary Sujit Kumar Mishra sent a letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary Dasayanta Nariyala, instructing the immediate suspension of Khatun and the initiation of disciplinary action against her. The letter stated, “The commission’s directives should be implemented immediately, and a compliance report must be submitted by 11 AM on April 4.”
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