Kolkata, April 8 (IANS) With the Election Commission toughening its stand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee 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.
"The state government had sought clarification and reconsideration on the orders regarding the shuffling. After reconsidering we have iterated that the list that was issued April 7 has to be complied with by 10 a.m. Wednesday," EC director Dhirendra Ojha told IANS over the phone.
Citing administrative concerns, Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra earlier in the day asked the EC urging it reconsider its decision.
Taking a tough stand against the order, Banerjee Monday had refused to comply and continued her defiance the second day, keeping up with her tirade against the panel during her addresses in Bankura and Purulia districts.
"I cannot be knowingly made to do something which is unjust. If the transfer were genuine, there was no problem but transferring officers to allow Congress to win is not acceptable," she said during one of her rallies Tuesday.
She later relented but said she will write to panel Wednesday expressing her disappointment and that the state government's opinion was not sought before issuing the order.
She also warned that in case of any untoward incident, the responsibility will be on the EC.
"Bengal is very sensitive, it is the gateway to the northeast and Nepal and here Maoists, KLO (Kamtapur Liberation Organisation), ISI are active. Even central agencies recently held a meeting for that. If something untoward happens then the responsibility solely will rest on the EC and those parties who are behind this," she said.
Observing that the integrity of the transferred officers has not been questioned, Banerjee accused the poll panel of working at the Congress' behest.
"If something untoward happens then the Congress, BJP and the CPI-M who are behind this will have to give answers," she asserted.
The Trinamool Congress chief also expressed her anguish over the schedule of the polls in the state and accused the Congress of "using central agencies to needle her government".
Meanwhile the opposition has lambasted Banerjee for her outburst against the poll panel and accused her of defying the constitution.
If state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rahul Sinha urged the EC to show cause Banerjee, his Congress counterpart Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded the Trinamool supremo's arrest for defying the constitution.
"I feel Mamata Banerjee should be immediately arrested and sent to jail for making fun of constitutional norms. She is reacting in this way because her plans to unleash terror have been foiled by the EC," said Chowdhury.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose said: "This is unprecedented, nothing like this has been heard before. Is it her ego that is preventing her from complying with the law? If her defiance leads to a constitutional crisis in the state, she will be the only person to be blamed."
Trump solely responsible for Capitol Hill violence: Final investigation report – conspired to change election results, everything happened at his behest
The House of Representatives, the lower house of the US Parliament, has accused Trump of a major conspiracy in the Capitol Hill attack case. The report said that on January 6, supporters of Trump
Makar Sankranti 2024: Know why Makar Sankranti is celebrated, Sun and Shani Dev are pleased by donating.
Makar Sankranti 2024: In Hindu religion, the fasts and festivals that occur every month have special significance. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival of Makar Sankranti in the month of
Petrol Diesel Price Today: Oil companies released the prices of petrol and diesel, know the prices of your city
Petrol Diesel Price: Oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel for today. Today companies have changed the prices of oil in Delhi and Chennai. A few months back, the government
The situation worsens in Kherson, Ukraine: curfew imposed, Putin asks people to withdraw; the anticipation of major action
Curfew was announced late Friday night in Kherson, Ukraine. Russian-appointed Kherson Governor Stremosov said the situation was going to worsen here. Russia claims the Kherson province of Ukraine
Migration from Mumbai again: Police showered batons, but the workers of UP-Bihar remained at the station overnight; Said - if the lockdown is imposed, you will die of hunger here
We have all seen heart-wrenching pictures of migrants returning home from big cities after a sudden lockdown in the first wave of Corona. In the third wave of the epidemic, a similar sight is being
Voters relieved shutdown withdrawn in Assam districts
Guwahati, April 11 (IANS) Voters in Assam's Karbi Anglong district have heaved a sigh of relief after two militant outfits Friday withdrewn the indefinite shutdown slapped in the district since
The effect of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine is decreasing in six months, the risk of getting hit by the delta variant will increase
Anti-Corona Vaccine The vaccine of Pfizer/BioNTech will be only 47 percent effective after six months of vaccination. When Deciding on the Need for Booster Shots in the U.S. Health agencies have said
Roadmap for 2024 T20 World Cup begins: Hardik said – New talent will get a chance, the young player has the opportunity to prove in New Zealand
Team India will start the T20 series in Wellington on 18 November on a New Zealand tour. All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been made the captain of the team for the three-match T20I series. Pandya said
According to the guidelines of Odd-Even, shops are opening for 20 days, but the owners are coming to collect the rent instead of the customers.
8th story from New Delhi. (Bhanwar Jangid). Within two months of the lockdown, Delhi's heartbeats have been hit by ventilators. This is because, in the market of Gandhinagar, which supplies ready-made
Corporate espionage case: CBI arrests commerce ministry employee
New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested an absconding commerce ministry employee for his alleged role into the leakage and sale of confidential
