New Delhi: An ugly confrontation between the Mamata government and the Election Commission could lead to the scrapping of Lok Sabha polls in the state, warns experts.
“I challenge the Election Commission to remove anybody while I am in charge,” the Chief Minister had declared on Monday. EC sources say, “We will wait for the state government to follow our orders. If the officials are not transferred, the polls can be cancelled.”
Five Superintendents of Police, one district magistrate and two additional district magistrates are among the officials who are to be transferred. “How can the Election Commission transfer and name new officers without consulting the state government?” asked Ms Banerjee.
“You will only listen to Congress…to make 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.”
West Bengal begins polling from April 17 in five phases.
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