Mamata Banerjee challenges Election Commission, says won’t allow transfer of officials

Mangalore Today News Network

 Kolkata, April 8, 2014: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today lashed out at the Election Commission of India for transferring state officials from various districts. The Election Commission on Monday announced the transfer of five Superintendents of Police and one District Magistrate after the opposition complained of bias.

At a campaign rally in Hooghly district, Mamata attacked the Election Commission stating that she won’t ’allow’ these transfers and that the Commission was working at the behest of the Congress party. "How can the Election Commission transfer and name new officers without consulting the state government?" questioned Mamata.

The Election Commission on Monday ordered the removal of the Police Superintendents of Birbhum, West Midnapore, Murshidabad, Malda and Burdwan and the District Magistrate of North 24 Pargana.

A visibly angry Mamata said, "I respect the Election Commission but remember, we are not like other political parties. The EC is doing this to make the Congress win! I challenge the Election Commission! In order to implement this EC will first have to accept my resignation! I respect the EC but won’t bow my head before anyone,"

In an unprecedented personal attack on Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi, the Bengal Chief Minister said, "Zutshi is behind all this, non-bailable warrant was issued against him. He has taken a stay order from Supreme Court. How can the EC give charge to a person who is accused in so many frauds?"

Mamata criticised the Commission’s decision as ’motivated’ terming it a ’conspiracy’. "This is a conspiracy of the Congress, BJP, CPM along with the Election Commission. But I will fight alone. I do not care about such conspiracies. You can do whatever you want; you can even arrest me if you like. But under my rule, I won’t allow any of these transfers to take place. Then let the Commission rule the state if it wants," said Banerjee

The officers were removed after the opposition CPI(M), Congress and BJP complained that they had failed to address violations of model code of conduct. The decision comes just a day after the Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath met all political parties in Kolkata to listen to their grievances.