Bihar BJP leader's husband appointed police observer in Malda, TMC questions EC's move

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has ignited a fresh controversy ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections by questioning the neutrality of a Police Observer appointed by the Election Commission. During a press conference at TMC Bhavan, State Minister Bratya Basu and MP Partha Bhowmick alleged that Jayant Kant, an IPS officer assigned to four crucial constituencies in Malda, is the husband of a prominent BJP leader from Bihar. The TMC presented photographs purportedly showing the officer’s wife sharing a stage with Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, though these images have not been independently verified.

Jayant Kant, a Bihar-cadre IPS officer, has been tasked with overseeing the Mothabari, Baishnabnagar, Manikchak, and Sujapur seats—all of which share a border with Bihar. Minister Bratya Basu pointed out that the officer's wife is allegedly a BJP leader in Bihar’s Jamui district, which also borders West Bengal. The TMC leadership questioned how an officer with such close familial ties to a political party could function as an impartial observer in a high-stakes election.

This allegation follows the Election Commission’s recent decision to transfer 73 Returning Officers and appoint 84 police observers from other states. The TMC has characterized these moves as a coordinated effort between the BJP and the ECI to "occupy" West Bengal by deploying biased officials. Bratya Basu further suggested that the party is scrutinizing the backgrounds of other appointed observers to check for similar political affiliations, warning that the "history of these actions is being recorded."