"I challenge the Election Commission to remove anybody while I am in charge," Mamata Banerjee said yesterday.
In an escalating battle, Election Commission sources have pointed out that the panel has the option of cancelling or postponing polls in certain West Bengal constituencies if chief minister Mamata Banerjee continues to challenge its order to transfer eight officials.
The Election Commission or EC has sought the transfer of five Superintendents of Police, one district magistrate and two additional district magistrates in West Bengal. A furious Ms Banerjee said yesterday, "I challenge the Election Commission to remove anybody while I am in charge."
(Furious Mamata dares Election Commission to transfer officials in Bengal)
Election Commission sources said it would wait for the state administration to transfer the officials. "The EC's mandate is to conduct free and fair elections...If the officials are not transferred then polls can be cancelled or postponed in those constituencies," a senior official said.
The state government has now written to the Commission asking for a clarification.
On Monday, Mamata Banerjee had said, "How can the Election Commission transfer and name new officers without consulting the state government," and, "You will only listen to the Congress...to make the Congress win, BJP win. You will have to take my resignation. I will not remove a single officer, not while I am Chief Minister. Do what you like."
(Elections 2014: Full Coverage)West Bengal begins polling from April 17 in five phases.
(India Votes 2014: Candidates |
Schedule)
The election commission has sought the transfer of the officials following complaints of bias against them.