Bengal Row: CM Shubhendu Adhikari’s Top Bureaucratic Picks Trigger Opposition Firestorm

Fresh political controversy has erupted in West Bengal after the newly formed government under Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari announced a series of high-profile bureaucratic appointments, prompting sharp criticism from opposition parties. At the center of the row is the appointment of senior IAS officer Manoj Agarwal as the state’s new Chief Secretary, a move that Congress leaders claim raises serious concerns over electoral neutrality and administrative independence. Manoj Agarwal, a 1990-batch IAS officer and an IIT Kanpur graduate, previously served as West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer during the recently concluded election process. Opposition parties allege that he played a key role in the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which has already faced accusations from Congress regarding voter exclusion and alleged electoral irregularities. Congress leaders, including senior party figure Jairam Ramesh, have accused the Election Commission of lacking neutrality and alleged a nexus between the BJP and constitutional institutions. The party further claimed that nearly 2.7 million voters were deprived of their voting rights during the electoral process, allegations that have intensified political tensions in the state. Alongside Agarwal’s appointment, former IAS officer Subrata Gupta has been named Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister. Gupta, also a 1990-batch bureaucrat, has previously served as district magistrate in several districts, headed multiple state corporations, and worked on central deputation assignments. Notably, he also served as a Special Observer during the SIR process, adding fuel to opposition criticism over the latest appointments. The BJP and the new administration have not yet issued a detailed response to the allegations. However, the appointments are being viewed as the first major political flashpoint for the newly sworn-in Bengal government, with opposition parties preparing to intensify attacks over questions surrounding transparency, governance, and electoral credibility.