Does the Suspension of a Bengal Officer Validate BJP’s Claims of Electoral Fraud?

Kolkata, May 17 (NationPress) The suspension of an officer engaged in the electoral process in West Bengal due to his inappropriate behavior has validated the BJP’s claims regarding electoral fraud in the region, stated Amit Malviya, the Chief of the BJP’s Information Technology cell and the central observer for West Bengal, on Saturday.

Previously, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal took action to suspend Arun Gorain, an assistant system manager, for allegedly inserting his personal mobile number into the login details of a Block Development Officer (BDO) and an Assistant Election Returning Officer (AERO) within the same division.

In light of this suspension, Malviya asserted that a two-pronged electoral fraud scheme is underway in West Bengal as the 2026 Assembly elections approach.

“In regions such as Murshidabad and Beldanga, individuals affiliated with Islamist terrorist groups are being issued multiple voter ID cards, allowing them to cast votes across various assembly constituencies. Conversely, in areas like Nadia, Kaliganj, and Howrah, the names of legitimate West Bengal voters—particularly Hindu voters—are being unjustly removed from the electoral rolls,” Malviya expressed via X.

Concerning the officer's suspension, Malviya indicated that the accused utilized the login credentials of the electoral registration officer to tamper with the voter list by both adding and removing names.

“An example of this misconduct is a voter named Payel Bhatia, whose father’s name is incorrectly listed as Rahul Banik. However, the electoral roll also categorizes Rahul Banik as a woman, casting doubt on the validity of these entries,” Malviya noted.

He also charged the Trinamool Congress with hiring a private organization to position its loyalists in various administrative roles, which subsequently engaged in illegal activities, including manipulating vote tallies to favor the ruling party.

“During the 2021 Assembly elections, numerous instances of arbitrary name removals from voter lists occurred, alongside the announcement of fraudulent results orchestrated by these operatives. Many of these individuals were unlawfully granted government jobs by the state administration. Ahead of the 2026 elections, the BJP pledges to eradicate such corrupt elements and establish a transparent government that will hold both the corrupt and their enablers accountable,” he affirmed.

Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, also welcomed the officer's suspension, asserting that this situation reveals a “disturbing collusion” between officials involved in the electoral process and the leadership of the Trinamool Congress.