Opposition condemns confrontation between Election Commission and Mamata

Opposition leaders in Bengal on Tuesday condemned the confrontation between the West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, and the Election Commission (EC) after Banerjee refused to transfer officials as directed by the election body.

On Monday, Banerjee had challenged EC's order transferring five superintendents on charges of being biased towards some political parties, during a rally in Pandua town of the eastern province.

While addressing a gathering, Banerjee said she respected the commission but won't succumb to its demand, calling it a conspiracy of ruling and opposition parties.

"I respect you (Election Commission) but I am not stooping in front of you. It is a conspiracy planned by the Election Commission, the federal government, the Congress party, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), and the CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist)," Banerjee said.

Meanwhile, senior leader of Communist Party of India (CPI), Gurudas Dasgupta, said the Chief Minister was 'playing with fire'.

"She is playing with fire, she has declared a war against the Constitution of India. It is not a dispute between state Election Commission and state government. It's a confrontation with the constitutionally constituted Election Commission who is totally empowered with that administration after the code of conduct comes into operation, such a move is unheard of," he said.

West Bengal will vote on April 17, 24 and 30. The Commission resorted to such action following complaints against the officials.

"One thing is clear that some officials who are not doing their duties properly in the eyes of the Election Commission and are biased towards certain parties, the commission can take action. But they should take action as per the course of the state government, this has happened in Madhya Pradesh and several other states as well, you can't take action on the basis of a mere complaint, you should consult the state government as well, they are taking action on the basis of a mere complaint by the opposition, they should first investigate into it," said vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

General Secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Devi Prasad Tripathi, condemned the confrontation.

"This is not appropriate, there should not be any conflict between the Election Commission and the state government. Whatever the Election Commission says during the elections should be followed," Tripathi said.