'Shameless': TMC slams appointment of Manoj Agarwal as West Bengal Chief Secretary, alleges election bias

The appointment was made by the administration headed by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari shortly after the formation of the new government, triggering a sharp political backlash from the TMC.

‘Reward for election role’, alleges TMC

The TMC alleged that Agarwal’s elevation to the state’s top bureaucratic post raises serious questions about the fairness of the recently concluded election.

Party leaders pointed out that Agarwal was associated with key administrative responsibilities during the election period, including oversight of election-related processes and voter roll revisions.

According to the TMC, his appointment soon after the polls creates the perception that officials involved in conducting the election are being “rewarded” by the ruling dispensation.

Opposition flags conflict of interest concerns

Senior TMC leaders, including Saket Gokhale, Derek O'Brien, and Sagarika Ghose, criticised the decision, arguing that it undermines public trust in the neutrality of the electoral and administrative system.

In his post on X, Gokhale said that the move showed BJP and the ECI were "being open about stealing the election" and questioned whether the courts were "blind or complicit".

They questioned whether such appointments compromise the independence of bureaucratic institutions that are expected to remain politically neutral during and after elections.

BJP defends decision as merit-based

The BJP government has rejected the allegations, stating that the appointment of Manoj Agarwal is strictly based on seniority and administrative experience.

It maintained that Agarwal, a 1990-batch IAS officer, is the most senior serving officer in the state and that the decision aligns with its stated goal of strengthening governance and restoring institutional discipline.

Rising political tension in Bengal

The controversy has added to the ongoing political friction between the BJP government and the TMC in West Bengal, with both sides trading charges over governance and electoral integrity.

While the government insists the appointment is a routine administrative restructuring, the opposition continues to frame it as a politically sensitive move that could impact public perception of the election process.

As the debate intensifies, the issue is expected to remain a flashpoint in the state’s evolving political landscape.