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Kolkata, Oct 10 (IANS) Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Friday wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding immediate action against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for “intimidating” election officials.
In the letter, the officer requested the Election Commission to immediately register an FIR against the Chief Minister for allegedly obstructing the conduct of free and fair elections next year and intimidating public servants performing their duties.
He has specifically sought ECI action against the Chief Minister for making “baseless claims” against a section of the Commission’s officials, particularly targeting CEO, West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal.
On Thursday, while addressing media persons at the state secretariat, CM Mamata made a veiled attack on Agarwal, saying the special officer, who has been in West Bengal, has “numerous allegations of corruption” against him.
“I will reveal the name when the time comes. I hope he will not act beyond his authority. He is unnecessarily threatening state government officials. The state administration has not yet been taken over by the ECI. Then why is the Commission now holding meetings with booth-level officials?” The Chief Minister said on Thursday.
In the letter to the ECI, the official claimed that such remarks by the Chief Minister are a brazen and insulting attack on the integrity and independence of the ECI, and an attempt to intimidate its officials into submission.
“Such language emanating from the head of the state government has the potential to paralyze the functioning of the Commission and vitiate the entire electoral environment. Necessary instructions should be issued to ensure the security and independence of all officials associated with the electoral process in West Bengal,” the letter said.
The official also informed that earlier on July 28, 2025, the Chief Minister, while addressing a gathering of senior administrative officials, had publicly cautioned the booth level officials that they should remember that they are employees of the state government and said that the state administration goes to the ECI only after the announcement of the election date and returns to the state government after the declaration of results.
The letter said, “Such a statement is not only factually misleading but also a blatant act of intimidation, aimed at coercing public servants who are statutorily mandated to perform their duties under the supervision of the Election Commission of India. It is a direct interference in the free and fair conduct of elections and undermines the basic spirit of Article 324 of the Constitution of India.”
–IANS
source/svn