Kolkata, West Bengal:
The Mamata Banerjee government is now engaged in a pitched battle with the Election Commission over the latter's order that eight officials must be transferred to ensure free and fair elections in West Bengal.
The commission has set a deadline of 2.30 pm today for the transfer of five superintendents of police, one district magistrate and two additional district magistrates, but has reportedly been informed in a letter written by the state's chief secretary that the Bengal government is "unable to effect the transfers."
(Opinion Poll: West Bengal firmly with Mamata Banerjee)A furious Ms Banerjee had said yesterday, "I challenge the Election Commission to remove anybody while I am in charge."
She accused the poll panel of attempting to transfer officers and name new ones without consulting her government and said, "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."
(Who is Mamata Banerjee?)Sources have pointed out that the panel has the option of cancelling or postponing polls in certain West Bengal constituencies if the officers are not transferred.
"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.
West Bengal begins polling from April 17 in five phases.
(Elections 2014: Full Coverage)The Election Commission has sought the transfer of the officials following complaints of bias made against them.