West Bengal Police on Tuesday rejected allegations made by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari regarding the handling of postal ballots for police personnel on election duty. In a post on X, the police strongly refuted claims that reserve officers or a police welfare body were collecting postal ballots from personnel.

The clarification came after Adhikari accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of attempting to manipulate the votes of police personnel through the West Bengal Police Welfare Organisation.

Police deny allegations over postal ballots

In its statement, West Bengal Police said the allegations were incorrect, and the voting process for police personnel follows a clearly defined procedure under election rules.

"The allegation raised is strongly refuted," the post said. It added that there is "no scope for collection of Postal Ballots (PB) from police personnel by Reserve Officers." According to the police, postal ballots are issued only by the Presiding Officer at the Postal Voting Centre (PVC).

The police explained that after casting their vote, personnel seal the ballot in the prescribed envelope and place it in a designated drop box at the PVC. "The entire process is videographed," the statement added.

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The police also described the official process for absentee voters in essential services. Police personnel deployed outside their constituency apply through Form 12D under the Absentee Voters in Essential Services (AVES) category. Their applications are forwarded by the Police Nodal Officer to the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer of the constituency where they are registered voters.

Once approved, voters receive an SMS informing them about the venue, date, and time of voting at the PVC. The police said the voting takes place after proper identification in the presence of polling agents of political parties. It also stated that "there is no possibility of Postal Ballots being taken out of the PVC or being collected by Reserve Officers of Police."

Suvendu Adhikari alleges election manipulation

Earlier, Suvendu Adhikari raised concerns in a post on X, alleging attempts to influence the voting process involving police personnel.

"I am deeply shocked and outraged by the brazen attempts of the TMC controlled so-called West Bengal Police Welfare Organisation to undermine the very foundations of our Democracy, even before the elections are announced," he wrote.

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Adhikari referred to an order issued by the Superintendent of Police of Jhargram district on March 7, 2026, claiming that it assigned the handling of postal ballots and election duty votes of police personnel to the "Joint Convener, Welfare" of the Jhargram District Police Welfare body.

Calling the organisation a "frontal outfit for the TMC party," he alleged that police reserve officers were being instructed to collect postal ballots and route them through the welfare body. He urged the Election Commission of India to take immediate action, disband the organisation, and ensure that postal ballots of police personnel are handled strictly through official channels.