A big fight has broken out on social media between West Bengal Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manoj Agarwal.
The two are arguing over past allegations and the “rules” of being a top officer.The trouble started when the CEO, Manoj Agarwal, gave a lecture to other officers about following “service rules” and staying within a “Lakshman Rekha” (a limit). Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya did not like this and hit back on X (Twitter).
She dug up an old CBI case to question the CEO’s own record.The Minister wrote: “Where was this moral sermon when, as per a CBI charge-sheet, nearly 30 bank accounts and six plots worth crores… were allegedly linked to your wife?”
She told the CEO that he must answer for these things before he tries to teach others about ethics. “Accountability first, lectures later,” she added.
The CEO did not stay silent. He posted a reply saying that the case mentioned by the Minister ended in an “honourable acquittal.” This means the court found no guilt.
He explained that his wife owned those properties even before they were married. He also said that she has been paying her Income Tax regularly since 1983 and has shown all her earnings to the government for the last 43 years.
The CEO called the attack an attempt to “give a dog a bad name and hang him.” He said he has passed a long “agnipariksha” (test) and that the truth has finally come out.
While the CEO says he is innocent, the Minister’s post shows that the fight between the government and top officials is getting very personal.
