The West Bengal BJP has lodged a complaint against chief election officer of the state, Arif Aftab, with the election commission of India.
The BJP said in its complaint that Aftab, a state cadre IAS officer, was "very close" to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and that he is being "advised" by the chief minister regarding the Lok Sabha elections.
Mukul Roy, the BJP election in-charge for West Bengal, made the complaint after meeting Aftab several times in the past few days over the many "irregularities" taking place in the state. Roy raised allegations against Murshidabad district collector, the superintendent of police and Hooghly district collector for their alleged biasness. District collectors are the district election officers as well.
"I have interacted with him several times and he is not in a position to address those issues. In fact, I have information that every information we share with him is being disclosed to the chief minister and other senior leaders of the ruling party," Roy alleged.
The tussle took an ugly turn on Monday, when Roy met the special police observer of the state, Vivek Dubey, at the election commission office. Aftab, too, was present for the meeting. Roy told Dubey that he would not discuss any issue if the CEO was present. Aftab exited and the meeting between Roy and Dubey began.
Roy demanded that all polling booths in the state be declared super sensitive. Dubey, however, said it would not be possible. Roy also demanded that not state police but central police force should man all the 75,000 polling booths in West Bengal.
After the meeting Dubey said, "I have asked every opposition party to give proof supporting their allegation. Otherwise, it would not be possible for me to come to a conclusion."
In the meeting, Roy also requested him to convey to the election commission, complaints against the director general of police, additional director general (Law and order) and other police officers against whom contempt cases were going on in Supreme Court.
The BJP sources said that the party, too, had approached the election commission regarding this and demanded the removal of the officers who were seen taking part in the political meetings of the chief minister against the CBI in February.
Roy said, "The BJP has decided to move the election commission to monitor the situation in Bengal. We will also raise the issue of violence during the last panchayat elections. But I can say one thing, under this CEO there cannot be free and fair election."
Sources have confirmed that election commission would send a team of officials later this week or next week to assess the demand of the opposition party and ground situation in the state. Dubey, on Tuesday, held meetings with senior police officers including the director general of police.