Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Election Commission of India after the newly formed West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, appointed former chief electoral officer Manoj Agarwal as the state's chief secretary. Gandhi alleged a collusion between the BJP and the Election Commission, describing the situation as a 'Chor Bazaar' where larger 'thefts' are being rewarded.
Rahul Gandhi's Allegations
In a series of posts on social media, Gandhi accused the BJP of manipulating the electoral process and rewarding officials who allegedly helped rig the recently concluded Assembly elections in West Bengal. He said, 'The 'Chor Bazaar' of EC-BJP is now openly rewarding bigger thefts. The appointment of Manoj Agarwal as chief secretary is a shameless reward for his role in the stolen mandate.' Gandhi's remarks come amid ongoing controversies over the fairness of the state elections, which saw the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance come to power after a fiercely contested campaign.
Trinamool Congress Reacts
The opposition Trinamool Congress, which lost power in West Bengal, also strongly criticized the appointment. Senior TMC leader Saket Gokhale called it 'shameless' and questioned the neutrality of the Election Commission. He said, 'The elevation of Manoj Agarwal exposes the deep bias in the electoral process. This is a reward for his complicity in the BJP's electoral manipulations.' Another TMC leader, Sagarika Ghose, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the appointment undermines the credibility of democratic institutions.
BJP Defends the Move
Defending the appointment, BJP leaders argued that Manoj Agarwal, a 1990-batch IAS officer, was the senior-most bureaucrat in the state and was appointed strictly according to service rules. A BJP spokesperson said, 'The appointment is based on seniority and merit. There is no political bias involved. The opposition is making baseless allegations to distract from their electoral defeat.' The party also accused the TMC of trying to undermine the new government's administrative decisions.
Background of the Controversy
Manoj Agarwal served as the chief electoral officer of West Bengal during the 2026 Assembly elections. His appointment as chief secretary has sparked a political firestorm, with the TMC and Congress alleging that it is a reward for his role in what they claim was a biased electoral process. The Election Commission has dismissed these allegations as baseless. The controversy continues to dominate political discourse in the state, with both sides trading accusations.
