TMC renominates Paresh Chandra Adhikari for 2026 poll despite recruitment scam controversy

TMC announced Paresh Chandra Adhikari as the party's candidate for the Mekhliganj assembly seat on Tuesday. Adhikari, a former Forward Bloc heavyweight who switched to the TMC in 2019, has been a dominant political figure in Cooch Behar for decades. Despite his long-standing influence, his renomination comes as a surprise to many, given the heavy baggage of the school recruitment scam that previously forced him out of the state cabinet.

Adhikari’s tenure as the Minister of State for Education ended abruptly in August 2022 following a High Court order. The controversy centered on his daughter, Ankita Adhikari, whose name allegedly appeared on the teacher recruitment merit list through fraudulent means, bypassing qualified candidates. The court not only terminated her services but also ordered her to return the salary she had drawn.

While the scandal cast a dark shadow over Adhikari's political career, the TMC leadership appears to have prioritized his local winnability and organizational grip over the optics of the scam. The veteran leader recently made headlines by staging a 24-hour hunger strike against the Special Information Report (SIR) process, where he launched a scathing attack on the BJP and the Election Commission.