Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: 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.Agarwal’s appointment came just 48 hours after special election observer Subrata Gupta was named adviser to the chief minister.Interestingly, Manoj Agarwal had originally been chosen as West Bengal’s chief electoral officer by the Election Commission from a panel sent by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government.Speculation over his new role intensified on Monday after Agarwal was seen seated beside chief minister Adhikari, with Nariala on his left, during the BJP government’s cabinet meeting at Nabanna.The Trinamool Congress, which had repeatedly clashed with Agarwal during the assembly polls, including a public spat on X between him and former finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, reacted sharply to the appointment.TMC MP Sagarika Ghose posted on X: “The so-called ‘neutral umpire’ is rewarded with the post of top bureaucrat of the BJP dispensation in Bengal. Does anyone still seriously believe the 2026 Bengal elections were free and fair? Outrageous and brazen.”The BJP defended the decision, saying it had appointed the senior-most IAS officer and, unlike Mamata Banerjee, had followed service rules.A 1990-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, Manoj Agarwal is due to retire on July 31. However, sources indicated that he could receive at least a six-month extension, subject to a recommendation from the state government and approval by the Centre.West Bengal has precedent for such extensions. Former chief secretaries Samar Ghosh, Hari Krishna Dwivedi, BP Gopalika and Manoj Pant continued in office even after turning 60. Ghosh, who was appointed during the Left Front era, later became Mamata Banerjee’s first chief secretary in 2011.A mechanical engineering graduate, Agarwal has held several key administrative positions during his career. He began as ADM of Burdwan and later served as principal secretary in departments including personnel and administrative reforms, food and supplies, and fire and emergency services.In June 2024, he was appointed additional chief secretary of the forest department before becoming chief electoral officer ten months later.Under Agarwal’s tenure as CEO, the assembly elections in West Bengal were conducted largely peacefully. Sources said chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had commended him for overseeing the polls smoothly.His appointment also comes ahead of the May 21 Falta bypoll.
