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West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday remained adamant on her decision to overrule the Election Commission of India's order to transfer five superintendents of police, one district magistrate and two additional district magistrates on Monday.
The EC's stand was : The Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal could be cancelled if EC's orders for transferring officials isn't followed, sources in the panel in Delhi told HT on Tuesday. They said that disciplinary action could be taken against the West Bengal's chief secretary.
The EC's had warning come after Banerjee said she would not "remove a single officer".
The EC's transfer order came a day after the visit of the chief election commissioner to Bengal. There were allegations that the officials were acting in a biased manner and helping the ruling Trinamool Congress.
On Monday, Banerjee lashed out at the EC, describing it as an agent of all her rivals — the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Her outburst came after the poll body ordered the transfer of five superintendents of police, one district magistrate and two additional district magistrates earlier in the day.
The ECI has the authority to transfer or suspend administrative officials after the poll dates are announced.
Banerjee had also challenged the poll body, saying it can do anything it wanted.
"I don't care. Not a single transfer will take place as long as I am the chief minister. Either accept my resignation, or the transfer won't happen."
The Election Commission rejected a face-saver formula suggested by the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, making it clear that it must transfer eight officials in the state by 10 am tomorrow morning and replace them with those that the panel has chosen.
The State Govt has just complied.
A good sign and further proof of the strength of national institutions.
The EC's stand was : The Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal could be cancelled if EC's orders for transferring officials isn't followed, sources in the panel in Delhi told HT on Tuesday. They said that disciplinary action could be taken against the West Bengal's chief secretary.
The EC's had warning come after Banerjee said she would not "remove a single officer".
The EC's transfer order came a day after the visit of the chief election commissioner to Bengal. There were allegations that the officials were acting in a biased manner and helping the ruling Trinamool Congress.
On Monday, Banerjee lashed out at the EC, describing it as an agent of all her rivals — the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Her outburst came after the poll body ordered the transfer of five superintendents of police, one district magistrate and two additional district magistrates earlier in the day.
The ECI has the authority to transfer or suspend administrative officials after the poll dates are announced.
Banerjee had also challenged the poll body, saying it can do anything it wanted.
"I don't care. Not a single transfer will take place as long as I am the chief minister. Either accept my resignation, or the transfer won't happen."
The Election Commission rejected a face-saver formula suggested by the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, making it clear that it must transfer eight officials in the state by 10 am tomorrow morning and replace them with those that the panel has chosen.
The State Govt has just complied.
A good sign and further proof of the strength of national institutions.
.
