Bengal CEO, Who Oversaw Polls & SIR, Is Now Chief Secretary in BJP Government

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal has been appointed as the state’s new Chief Secretary in the BJP government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. His appointment was confirmed after photographs surfaced on May 11 showing Agarwal attending Adhikari’s first administrative meeting with Cabinet ministers and department heads, shared by BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Facebook. Agarwal’s transition follows criticism from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which accused him of biased conduct during the state’s electoral roll revision and the recent Assembly elections. The TMC had sought action against him from the Election Commission, alleging partisan behavior. Former Election Commissioner SY Quraishi acknowledged that bureaucrats often return to state or central roles post-Commission service but called the move ‘bad optics’ amid distrust in election oversight. While there is no legal bar to Agarwal attending government meetings or holding administrative posts, his rapid promotion raises concerns. Comparable cases include Odisha’s Nikunja Bihari Dhal, appointed Additional Chief Secretary shortly after the BJP took power in 2024, and Delhi’s Vijay Kumar Dev, who became Chief Secretary months after serving as the city’s CEO in 2018. In West Bengal, retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta, who monitored the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, has also been named an advisor to Adhikari, adding to scrutiny over post-election appointments. Agarwal, a 1990-batch IAS officer, previously held key roles in Personnel, Food, Fire, and Forest departments before overseeing the SIR and 2024 Assembly elections. Under the Representation of the People Act, the Chief Electoral Officer is appointed by the Election Commission in consultation with the state government but operates under the Commission’s supervision during elections. Agarwal defended the deletion of 58 million voter names, citing cases of deceased, duplicate, or shifted registrations, though critics dispute the process’s fairness. The move highlights tensions between bureaucratic continuity and political accountability, particularly in states where election integrity remains contentious. While procedural norms allow such transitions, the timing and Agarwal’s past role have intensified debates over transparency in electoral administration.