‘Election stolen?’ Ex-Bengal poll chief lands BJP govt’s top post, sparks massive outrage

The neutrality of the Election Commission of India (ECI) has come under sharp political scrutiny after former West Bengal chief electoral officer Manoj Agarwal was appointed chief secretary by the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, triggering an aggressive attack from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Days after conceding defeat in the Bengal assembly elections, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC alleged that the appointment raised serious questions over the independence of the poll process.

The announcement was made after the first cabinet meeting of the BJP government led by Suvendu Adhikari.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale launched a blistering attack on social media, claiming that the BJP and the ECI were now ‘open about stealing the election.’ 

He questioned whether courts were ‘blind or complicit’ in the matter. TMC MP Sagarika Ghose also criticised the move, saying the ‘so-called neutral umpire’ had been rewarded with the top bureaucratic post in the BJP dispensation and asked whether anyone could still believe the 2026 Bengal elections were ‘free and fair’.

The BJP defended the appointment, arguing that Agarwal was the senior-most IAS officer in the cadre and that the government had merely followed established service rules.

Party leaders also pointed out that Agarwal had originally been selected as chief electoral officer by the previous TMC government itself from a panel approved by the ECI.

A 1990-batch IAS officer, Agarwal is set to retire on July 31, though sources indicated he could receive an extension subject to approval from the Centre.

He previously served in several key departments, including personnel and administrative reforms, food and supplies, and fire and emergency services.

Agarwal’s appointment comes just days after former special election observer Subrata Gupta was named adviser to the chief minister, further fuelling opposition allegations over the proximity between election officials and the new BJP administration.

The controversy has reignited debate around institutional neutrality in the aftermath of the fiercely contested Bengal assembly elections, even as the state prepares for the upcoming Falta bypoll.