Kolkata: Incensed by its order transferring five superintendents of police and a district magistrate, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday virtually declared war on the Election Commission. “I challenge the commission to do whatever they want, but I am not going to transfer any of my SPs,” she said.
Ms Banerjee, alleged the EC was doing the bidding of the Congress. The full bench of the EC led by Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath had visited the state Saturday and Sunday and made it clear strong action will be taken aga-inst some state officials who were either biased towards the ruling establishment or who took no action on complaints by the Opposition.
Immediately after the commissioners returned to Delhi, the EC gave marching orders to the SPs of Birbhum, Burdwan, West Midnapore, Murshidabad and Malda. It also transferred the DM of North 24-Parganas as well as a returning officer.
Ms Banerjee targeted the EC and even the media while addressing meetings in Hooghly and Burdwan district. “Five of our SPs have been transferred, and the names of new officers finalised without informing the state government. Will the EC only listen to the Congress... to help the Congress and BJP win. You will have to accept my resignation before removing any official,” she added.
