Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
Much of the backlash stemmed from the perception that the government acted contrary _______ its stated principles.

Correct option is B

The correct option to fill in the blank is (b) to.
Explanation:
The correct collocation is contrary to, which means opposite to, inconsistent with, or against. (के विपरीत, के विरुद्ध) Since the sentence refers to the government acting inconsistently with its principles, to is the correct preposition.
Contrary to: Opposed to or inconsistent with. (के विपरीत)
Example:
· Contrary to expectations, the team won the match.
· His actions were contrary to the rules.
Why other options are incorrect:
· (a) by: Incorrect because the expression is not contrary by.
· (c) with: Grammatically incorrect in this collocation.
· (d) against: Although similar in meaning, the standard phrase is contrary to.
Information Booster:
Common adjective/preposition combinations:
· Contrary to
· Similar to
· Opposed to
· Different from
· Dependent on
· Consistent with