kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission, alleging bias and “unprecedented interference” in the state’s administrative machinery following a series of large-scale transfers of IAS and IPS officers ahead of the upcoming elections.

The controversy comes after the Election Commission ordered the transfer of several senior officials, including district magistrates, police commissioners, superintendents of police, and other key administrative officers across West Bengal. According to the Chief Minister, more than 50 top officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP, ADG, IG, DIG, district magistrates, and police superintendents, were abruptly removed from their posts after the election schedule was announced.

Mamata Banerjee had earlier written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar protesting against the decisions, but she claimed that no response was received, while the transfers continued unabated.

The Chief Minister described the situation as an “unannounced emergency” and likened it to an “undeclared President’s rule,” alleging that the administrative changes were not routine procedural actions but politically motivated interventions. She further accused the Election Commission of abandoning its neutral role and acting in a partisan manner, stating that such actions represent a direct attack on constitutional principles.

Mamata Banerjee also raised concerns over the non-publication of the complete voter list, alleging that despite Supreme Court directions, full electoral rolls have not been made available. She said this has created confusion and anxiety among citizens at a crucial time.

The Chief Minister further alleged that key intelligence and investigative agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Special Task Force (STF), and Criminal Investigation Department (CID), have seen senior officers being selectively transferred out of the state, which she claimed could weaken administrative stability in West Bengal during the election period.

She also criticised the Election Commission’s handling of appointments of police observers from West Bengal, pointing out that officers from Bidhannagar and Siliguri police commissionerates were initially appointed as observers in other states without immediate replacements being named. This, she said, temporarily left major urban centres without proper leadership before corrective measures were later taken.

According to Mamata Banerjee, such inconsistent and “contradictory” decisions reflect administrative confusion and poor planning rather than effective electoral management. She argued that these developments amount to undue interference in the state’s governance structure at a sensitive political moment.

The Election Commission has not yet issued a detailed response to the allegations. Meanwhile, the dispute has further intensified the political confrontation between the West Bengal government and the poll body as the state moves closer to the election season.