Biswabrata Goswami
DANTAN/MIDNAPORE, 25 MARCH: With West Bengal all set for the first phase of high-octane assembly elections on 27 March, Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday slammed the BJP for interfering in the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Asserting that the Trinamul Congress would be victorious in the upcoming assembly elections, Mamata alleged, “The BJP is interfering in the functioning of Election Commission. Even if the Election Commission transfers all West Bengal officers, TMC’s victory will not be prevented.”
Banerjee’s reaction comes amidst the EC’s order to transfer five officers, including an additional director general of police, in West Bengal saying they will not be given any poll-related assignment.
Among the officers transferred by the ECI is District Election Officer Jhargram Ayesha Rani. She has been replaced by Joyeshi Dasgupta as District Election Officer DEO Jhargram.
The ECI has transferred four police officers including Additional Director General of Police, West Zone. Rajesh Kumar has appointed as the new ADG police West Bengal. The other officers transferred are SP Cooch Behar and S P Diamond Harbour. In Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Sudheer Kumar Neelakantam has been replaced by Akash Magharia.
According to to the ECI, the officers transferred shall not be posted in election related posts till the completion of elections. The transfers come a day after the ECI directed that the post of State Security Advisor will be kept in abeyance till the elections. The Chief Minister had created the post of State Security Observer and appointed retired Director General of Police to the post.
Addressing an election rally at Dantan in West Midnapore in favour of party’s candidate Bikram Chandra Pradhan, Mamata also accused the BJP of fielding a new political party to cut into the minority votes. Though she did not name any political party, Mamata said, “A new political outfit has been launched in the state at the behest of the BJP to grab a share of the minority votes and help the saffron party. Please don’t vote for its candidates.”
The TMC chief’s reference is to the Indian Secular Front (ISF) which is contesting the polls in alliance with the Left parties and Congress. The party has fielded a number of candidates in South 24 Parganas.