Mamata buckles under EC pressure
Kolkata: With the Election Commission toughening its stand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday agreed to its direction to transfer eight officials as a “constitutional obligation” but also demanded a top “tainted” poll panel official quit.
Banerjee’s announcement came hours of the poll panel rejecting the state government’s plea to reconsider the directive to transfer eight officials, including five district police chiefs and a district magistrate.
Terming the order “political vendetta”, she said the officers will be reinstated after the polls.
“We are not accepting it as the EC’s order… rather accepting it as a constitutional obligation. For the time being we are accepting the removal of the officers but once the polls are over, they will return to their original places,” Banerjee told media persons in Durgapur in Burdwan district.
She again accused Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi of involvement in a scam.
“There is a case against this man in Rajasthan involving a land scam. Even a non-bailable warrant was issued against him but he got it stayed by Supreme Court.
“Why this person in charge of election process in Bengal? Why a tainted person like him is allowed to function. We demand his immediate removal,” said Banerjee who had attacked Zutshi on Monday too.
The poll panel had remained adamant on its decision on the transfers and mandated the Banerjee government to comply its order by Wednesday. (IANS)
