Bengal polls: TMC asks EC to remove Bhabanipur RO, alleges ties with BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari

The Trinamool Congress on Friday reiterated its demand to the Election Commission, seeking the “immediate” removal of the returning officer for the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in the run-up to the Assembly elections in West Bengal.

In a representation submitted to West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal, the ruling party in the state alleged that Surajit Roy, the returning officer, had a “documented and close association” with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Suvendu Adhikari.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will contest against Adhikari, the leader of Opposition in the state, from the Bhabanipur constituency.

The West Bengal election will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29 in the state. The results will be announced on May 4.

On March 24, the Trinamool Congress had complained to the Election Commission against the appointment of Roy as the returning officer for Bhabanipur, citing “credible apprehensions” regarding his independence, reported The Indian Express.

“It is widely known that he is closely associated with Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party,” TMC national working committee member and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien had written.

As Adhikari was contesting from the Bhawanipur constituency, Roy’s appointment gives “rise to a reasonable likelihood of bias and lack of neutrality”, O’Brien added.

He had also noted that the Election Commission had issued directions that officers with political proximity,...

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