Kolkata: The high-stakes election in West Bengal witnessed high drama after an IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh issued a blunt warning to a Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate over alleged voter intimidation before the second and last round of polling on April 29.
A video clip of the officer’s action has now gone viral. While the common man has appreciated him, the TMC is fuming.
Known as an encounter specialist, liked by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Ajay Pal Sharma is currently deployed as a police observer for the district of South 24-Parganas in West Bengal.
Soon after assuming charge, Sharma received complaints of alleged intimidation efforts by Jehangir Khan, the TMC candidate from the Falta constituency.
The IPS officer, accompanied by a group of Central Armed Police Forces personnel, reached Khan’s house after some difficulty as neither locals, nor the state police, were ready to disclose its location. The candidate was not present at home at that time.
Sharma then stood outside and told Khan’s relatives that he would be dealt with ‘properly’ unless he stopped intimidating voters.
“Make sure he understands. If there are complaints of people being threatened, we will deal with it properly. If anyone indulges in wrongdoing or tries to harass voters, we will take strict action. Don’t come crying to us after that. It won’t help,” he said.
Sharma also found 14 West Bengal Police personnel deployed at Khan’s residence. He was informed by the local SP that the TMC leader has been granted Y-category security cover with 10 personnel assigned.
The observer then pointed out the discrepancy and issued a notice seeking an explanation for the additional deployment, as reported by India Today.
A political slugfest erupted after the video went viral, with both the BJP and the TMC trading accusations over the officer’s conduct and neutrality.
The officer had “set the tone” by firmly warning the family members of a close aide of TMC MP and the party’s number two Abhishek Banerjee, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said.
“The message is loud and clear: the era of intimidation and impunity is over. Law and order will prevail, and those attempting to influence the electoral process will be held accountable,” Malviya said.
The TMC, however, launched a scathing attack on Sharma, questioning both his appointment and his past record. In a strongly worded statement, the party alleged that the officer had been “parachuted in” by the Election Commission and described him as someone whose reputation was built on controversial “encounters”.
Claiming that such an officer’s deployment raises “serious concerns” about neutrality in the poll process, the party cited past allegations against Sharma, including his removal from Rampur in 2020 and an internal probe into an alleged cash-for-postings racket. It further referred to an FIR accusing him of criminal misconduct.
The Trinamool said that any conduct “unbecoming of a neutral observer” would invite consequences, adding: “Bengal is no Uttar Pradesh.”
The TMC received support from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who claimed that the BJP had sent “tested agents” to West Bengal in the guise of observers. In a post in Hindi, Yadav claimed such efforts would not succeed and asserted that “Didi will remain,” backing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
There would be a “thorough investigation” into the actions of such officials at the “right time”, Yadav said.
With the first phase of polling witnessing a record voter turnout, all eyes are on the second phase. Officials have indicated that any complaints of intimidation or attempts to influence voters will be acted upon strictly.
