KOLKATA: A row erupted Saturday after a viral video allegedly showed an EC official for Panihati constituency on Kolkata’s outskirts preparing BJP campaign material, prompting TMC to demand his removal and legal action before elections.Trinamool lodged a complaint with the state’s chief electoral officer (CEO) against sector officer Atanu Chakraborty, accusing him of violating norms and compromising neutrality required of election staff. The complaint cited a video circulating on social media that purportedly shows Chakraborty arranging BJP flags and pamphlets.
In a letter to the CEO, TMC MP Derek O’Brien alleged that the officer engaged in activities linked to BJP, breaching the model code of conduct and other provisions governing the conduct of election personnel. Seeking urgent intervention, party functionaries urged that Chakraborty be stripped of all poll duties and face strict legal proceedings, as “his conduct is a serious threat to free and fair elections”.
