Kolkata, March 19: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday lambasted the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the latter’s decision to transfer bureaucrats and police officers in the state and also sending many of them on deputation as general and police observers in other poll-bound states almost daily since the model code of conduct came into force after the announcement of the polling dates for four states and one union territory The Chief Minister also accused the ECI of singling out West Bengal, and said this trend, even before issuing the formal notification of elections, is highly alarming.
“The manner in which the Election Commission has singled out and targeted Bengal is not just unprecedented — It is deeply alarming. Even before the formal notification of elections, more than 50 senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP, ADGs, IGs, DIGs, District Magistrates, and Superintendents of Police, have been summarily and arbitrarily removed. This is not an administrative action; this is political interference of the highest order,” the Chief Minister said in a statement on her official social media handle X in the afternoon. According to her, what is happening currently is “nothing but a systematic politicisation of institutions meant to remain impartial, which is a direct assault on the Indian Constitution”. “At a time when a deeply flawed SIR process is underway and over 200 lives have already been lost, the conduct of the Commission reflects a clear bias and an uncomfortable submission to political interests, continuing to put the people of Bengal at risk,” the Chief Minister said.