ECI Transfers Falta Joint BDO Ahead Of Phase 2 Polls In Bengal, Removes Two ADMs

The Election Commission also relieved ADM Bhaskar Pal of South 24 Parganas and ADM Souvik Bhattacharya of Birbhum from all poll-related duties.

The ECI’s credibility will be tested not by the scale of its deployment, but by the effectiveness of its enforcement on the polling day. (PTI)

The Election Commission on Tuesday ordered the transfer of the Joint Block Development Officer (BDO) of Falta in South 24 Parganas district, hours before polling for the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. The move followed protests by the ruling Trinamool Congress in the constituency over the visit of special police observer Ajay Pal Sharma.

In a separate order issued late Tuesday night, the poll body also removed two Additional District Magistrates from election-related responsibilities, including one posted in South 24 Parganas district. No reasons were cited in the notice.

According to a poll body official, Joint BDO Sourav Hazra has been shifted out of Falta and posted to Purulia with immediate effect. He will be replaced by Ramya Bhattacharya. The official described the transfer as routine.

The Election Commission also relieved ADM Bhaskar Pal of South 24 Parganas and ADM Souvik Bhattacharya of Birbhum from all poll-related duties.

Hazra’s transfer comes as Falta is among the constituencies going to polls on April 29. The development follows allegations of non-cooperation with Election Commission-appointed police observer Ajay Pal Sharma, who faced protests from Trinamool Congress workers during his visit to the residence of the party’s candidate Jahangir Khan and his associates from Monday night.

Sharma, accompanied by central forces, had visited Khan’s residence around midnight and issued a stern warning over alleged voter intimidation. The situation escalated on Tuesday as the observer conducted route marches in sensitive areas and carried out searches based on inputs regarding potential troublemakers.

Tensions rose further when Trinamool Congress supporters gathered near the party office and protested against the observer’s actions, raising slogans of “go back” and “Jai Bangla”.

Sharma, an Uttar Pradesh-cadre IPS officer from the 2011 batch, known as ‘Singham’ for his crackdown on criminals during his tenure as Prayagraj ACP, was seen in a video warning potential troublemakers of “appropriate treatment” if they attempt to disrupt polling in West Bengal.

The Trinamool Congress accused the observer of overstepping his mandate and “intimidating” party workers.

Falta, which falls under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency represented by Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, has been identified as a sensitive seat.

The area has witnessed heightened security deployment, including over a hundred armed central paramilitary personnel, an armoured vehicle, and intensified surveillance as Sharma conducted searches for two consecutive days.

(With inputs from PTI)

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