Days after conceding a major defeat in West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has launched a sharp attack on the newly formed BJP government in the state over the appointment of former chief electoral officer Manoj Agarwal as chief secretary.
The opposition party termed the move “shameless” and questioned the neutrality of the election process.
The TMC highlighted that Agarwal, who oversaw the recently concluded assembly elections in West Bengal as the Election Commission’s top state official, has now been appointed to the highest bureaucratic post in the BJP-led state government.
Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale wrote on X: “Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Aggarwal, who conducted the West Bengal election for the EC, has been appointed chief secretary of Bengal by the new BJP Govt.
“BJP & ECI are now being open about stealing the election. “Are the courts BLIND or COMPLICIT? This is beyond shameless.”
The announcement was made after the first cabinet meeting of the Suvendu Adhikari-led government in West Bengal.