Kamal Kumar Biswas. TOD.Balurghat
A fresh political controversy has emerged in South Dinajpur district ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, with allegations centering on the role of government employees in the voting process.
The district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formally approached the Election Commission, claiming that four employees working under the District Magistrate’s office are directly associated with a Trinamool Congress-affiliated workers’ organization while also holding key responsibilities in the election process. According to the BJP, this dual involvement raises concerns about the neutrality of the electoral machinery and could potentially influence the conduct of voting.
The party has named Sanjib Dutta, Alok Mondal, Subir Roy, and Rana Upadhyay as individuals currently entrusted with significant election-related duties. BJP leaders allege that similar affiliations in the past have led to undue influence on the voting process. Citing those experiences, the party says it has proactively submitted a written complaint to the Election Commission ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Swarup Chowdhury, the BJP’s district president, emphasized the need for impartiality. “We want the elections to be conducted in a completely free and fair manner. That is why we have brought this matter to the attention of the Election Commission in advance. A proper investigation is necessary,” he said.
The Trinamool Congress-affiliated workers’ organization, however, has strongly denied the allegations. Its district president, Sanjib Dutta, stated that the group is part of a state government employees’ federation and that their sole objective is to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.
He added that the district is facing a significant shortage of staff, making it impractical to consider individuals’ political leanings while assigning duties. “All work is being carried out strictly in accordance with Election Commission guidelines. These allegations are baseless,” Dutta said.
The exchange of accusations has heightened political tensions in the district, with questions over administrative neutrality taking center stage. Attention now turns to the Election Commission and whether it will initiate any inquiry into the matter as the electoral process approaches.
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