West Bengal Assembly Election: Swapna Barman Faces Legal Hurdle in Contesting Elections Swapna Barman, a former railway employee and candidate for the Rajganj constituency in West Bengal’s upcoming Assembly elections, faces unresolved legal challenges that may prevent her from contesting. Despite resigning from her railway post on March 16, 2026, the railway authorities have not yet issued a No Objection Certificate (NOOC), a mandatory document for candidates to submit their nomination forms. The dispute stems from an alleged violation of railway rules, as Barman attended a political meeting on March 9, which the railway authorities claim breached her employment terms. Barman, a former athlete from Sonajhuri, was initially selected as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate for Rajganj. However, the party faced internal confusion when another TMC MLA, Khageshwar Rao, was reportedly considered as a replacement. Rao had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to endorse Barman, but he later reconciled with party leadership. Despite this, Barman’s candidacy remained in question due to the unresolved legal issue. The railway authorities’ complaint against Barman highlights the conflict between her professional obligations and political engagement. Under Indian law, employees of public sector organizations like the railways are barred from participating in political activities, as it is deemed a breach of service rules. Barman’s attendance at the political meeting on March 9 triggered the complaint, leading to the suspension of her NOOC. On the eve of the nomination deadline, her election agent, Mukulchandra Bairagya, claimed that the railway had issued the NOOC, allowing her to proceed with the nomination.#trinamool_congress #election_commission_of_india #swapna_barman #rajganj_constituency #railway_authorities
