ECI transfers Bengal election official, removes two ADMs after Singham officer row

PTC News Desk: The Election Commission on Tuesday transferred the Joint Block Development Officer (BDO) of Falta in South 24 Parganas district just hours before the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls, following protests by the ruling Trinamool Congress over the visit of special police observer Ajay Pal Sharma.

In a separate order issued later that night, the poll body also removed two Additional District Magistrates—one from South 24 Parganas and another from Birbhum—from all election-related duties, without giving any reasons.

An official said that Joint BDO Sourav Hazra has been immediately shifted from Falta to Purulia and will be replaced by Ramya Bhattacharya, calling it a routine transfer.

The move comes as Falta is set to vote on April 29 along with 245 constituencies, amid allegations that Hazra was not cooperating with the Election Commission’s appointed observer Sharma. The officer had faced protests from Trinamool Congress workers during his visit to the residence of party candidate Jahangir Khan and his associates since Monday night.

Sharma, accompanied by central forces, visited Khan’s residence around midnight on Monday and issued a strong warning over alleged voter intimidation. On Tuesday, tensions escalated further as he conducted route marches in sensitive areas and carried out searches based on inputs about possible troublemakers.

The situation intensified when Trinamool supporters gathered near the party office and staged protests against his actions. Sharma, a Prayagraj ACP known for his tough stance on crime and nicknamed ‘Singham’, was met with ‘go back’ and ‘Jai Bangla’ slogans during his visit.