East Burdwan DM, SP politically biased, says Adhikari, writes to CEC
The Statesman | 21 August 2025
The Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Subhendu Adhikari has brought charges of ‘unholy nexus’ and ‘political affiliation’ against the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of East Burdwan, and has sought the intervention of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
Adhikari’s complaint was based on some ‘photographic evidence’, which he has attached with his letter to the CEC. He has stated: “The DM and the SP graced a political event organised by the Trinamul Congress and shared the stage with TMC leaders on ‘Khela Hobe Day’ in Burdwan on 16 August.”
He alleged: “The presence of senior administrative and police personnel on a TMC platform undermines the impartiality which is expected of them.” The BJP leader laid stress on the photographs of the event, posted on social network platforms, where the TMC political symbol was visible in the corner of the background flex on the dais.
Besides seeking disciplinary action against the senior officials, Adhikari has also appealed to the CEC to take cognizance about the ‘incident’ and bar DM Ayesha Rani and SP Sayak Das from electoral duties.
On the day preceding the Khela Hobe Day event, the local MLA from Bardhaman (Dakshin) Khokon Das had organised his party’s Independence Day celebrations at the same place where the giant flex poster bearing TMC’s symbol was placed in the background.
Das said: “The Khela Day’s flex was placed covering the party’s banner flex, and this possibly had caused it to be hidden in the upper corner. The symbol became visible by chance.” This, he continued, “might have confused Adhikari and he has wrongly sent a letter to the CEC for publicity.”
The officials named in Adhikari’s complaint reserved their comments on the issue.