Would have removed EC if had two third majority: Mamata

Banerjee questioned the extension of tenure of SEC chief Mira Pandey by the previous Left Front govt

Even as she was compelled to abide by the Supreme Court orders and agree to the State Election Commission’s (SEC) proposal to have a five-phase panchayat polls in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stepped up her attack on SEC chief Mira Pandey.

Addressing public rallies in West Midnapore district, Banerjee questioned the extension of tenure of Pandey by the previous Left Front government. She said if the Trinamool Congress had a two-third majority in the Assembly, it would have removed Pandey from the post.

The state government and the SEC were at loggerheads over the date of panchayat polls in the state. The tension escalated when the government moved court against the SEC over deputing central forces for polls and over poll dates.

The state government then proceeded to appeal against the high court verdict in the apex court against holding polls during Ramzan. The Supreme Court turned down the government’s appeal.

Banerjee lashed out at SEC, saying her government had been compelled to accept the SEC’s “game plan” because the term of the panchayats was coming to an end.

Targeting Pandey, Banerjee said: “We did not appoint her (Pandey). Her term was extended from three to six years during the previous Left Front regime, adding that the Left Front government went to the extent of amending the relevant law for the purpose." “Had we got two-third majority in the Assembly, we would have definitely removed her,” she said.    

 

Elaborating on her reservations about the timing of the polls she said, “We did not want an election in peak monsoon and during Ramzan. I have been striving for the polls since last year, but the Congress, CPI-M and BJP did not allow me to hold polls, fearing they would lose. They had gone to the court.” 

 

Reportedly, Mira Pandey is preparing to take legal action against the chief minister for issuing threats against her and is in consultation with legal experts.   

 

An angry, Trinamool Congress had even boycotted the all-party meeting convened by the Election commission on Saturday. Party leader and industry minister Partha Chatterjee had stated that they were protesting against the commission's act of announcing the counting date unilaterally without consulting the political parties.