TMC questions CEO’s neutrality over Nandigram visit
The Statesman | 8 April 2026
The Trinamul Congress raised fresh questions over the neutrality of West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal on Tuesday, alleging that he was accompanied by a local BJP leader during his recent visit to Nandigram at the start of his district tour.
Agarwal had visited Nandigram last Saturday, touring several areas and interacting with local residents as part of election preparedness in the poll-bound state.
The Trinamul Congress releasing photographs from the visit claimed that a BJP functionary was present alongside the CEO during the tour.
Addressing a Press conference at Trinamul Bhavan, state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and party leader Kunal Ghosh questioned Agarwal’s impartiality.
The party alleged that the individual seen in the photograph, marked prominently, is Tapan Kumar Mahapatra, whom they identified as the BJP convenor of Kalicharanpur in Nandigram and a close associate of Leader of Opposition and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari.
“The CEO was moving around with BJP cadres. This shows how the Election Commission is functioning. This is absolute bias,” Ghosh said.
The Trinamul leadership further asked why Agarwal chose to begin his district visits from Nandigram, a politically sensitive constituency.
The BJP, however, did not deny Mahapatra’s presence in the vicinity but rejected the allegations of impropriety.
Party leaders defended the CEO, asserting that he was carrying out his duties with neutrality and commitment.
A Nandigram BJP leader said that Agarwal was the first CEO to act impartially and had earned the trust of ordinary people.
“Individuals may have personal motivations beyond political affiliations, suggesting that Mahapatra’s presence was in a personal capacity and not linked to party activity,” he added.
According to the BJP, Mahapatra had visited the location out of admiration for the CEO’s work rather than as a political representative.
The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions between the Trinamul Congress and the Election Commission over alleged bias in the run-up to the elections.
The ruling party has previously raised complaints against several officials, including general observers, police observers and sector officers, accusing them of corruption and links with the BJP.
In some instances, the Election Commission had taken action against officials following such allegations.
“As political parties have star campaigners, the Commission should also publish a list of its “star campaigners” if it continues to act in a partisan manner,” Ghosh said.
The Trinamul Congress also flagged concerns over voter list revisions, alleging that lakhs of valid voters have been excluded.
The Election Commission of India has not yet issued a formal response to the latest allegations.