JOHNSTON — A candidate for mayor, Raymond Acciardo, called for Mayor Joseph M. Polisena’s resignation yesterday, citing allegations aired in a lawsuit filed against the town.

The lawsuit accuses Polisena and other officials of a biased attempt to help builders rush the construction of FM Global’s new headquarters in violation of the town’s zoning laws and to the detriment of CapLease, the company that owns FM Global’s existing building.

The suit is pending in court and its allegations haven’t been tested by the town’s lawyers. A hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Polisena declined to comment on the suit yesterday, saying the case would be handled by the town’s lawyers.

Acciardo focused on one issue in the suit. The complaint alleges that town officials agreed to issue the permits prematurely, in exchange for FM Global’s promise to protect the municipality from “the illegality of its own conduct.”

It cites a letter in which an FM Global lawyer promises to indemnify the town if anyone filed a suit over its policy of permitting construction before the official time period for filing an appeal has elapsed.

Polisena has acknowledged that he was aware of the indemnity agreement.

“He still put the town at risk,” Acciardo said.

“All I know,” said Polisena, “is that we have $596.8 million in new investments in town and one of them is FM Global.”

mreynold@projo.com