Kolkata, April 7 (IANS) Lashing out at the Election Commission after it transferred eight West Bengal officials, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday refused to carry out the orders and said she was even prepared to go to jail.
Challenging the commission, Banerjee said: "Put me in jail. I will not remove a single officer as chief minister. You rule and remove."
A fuming Banerjee termed the commission's decision as a conspiracy hatched by the central government, the poll panel, the Congress, the BJP and the CPI-M as also a media group.
She said it was aimed at facilitating rigging in the election by the opposition parties.
"Either you have to accept my resignation or I will not obey you. I respect you, but not by bowing down," she told an election meeting at Pandua in Hooghly district.
"I will fight it alone. I don't care for your conspiracy. Don't blame Mamata Banerjee for any trouble. Either Mamata Banerjee will look after law and order, or the Election Commission. You control law and order. I have no objection. I can't take responsibility."
"I have been elected by the people. I have not been elected at the mercy of the Congress, or you. I challenge the Election Commission, which I have never done in my life," she said.
The poll panel Monday ordered the transfer of five police superintendents, one district magistrate and two additional district magistrates from their posts.
The commission's order, which came a day after the full bench of the poll panel held wide consultations with state officials and political parties, was sent to state Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra during the day.
Five police superintendents - in charge of West Midnapore, Bardhman, Birbhum, Malda and North 24 Parganas districts - were involved in the reshuffle along with the district magistrate of North 24 Parganas. Two additional district magistrates were also relieved of poll duty.
The commission asked the state government to implement the orders by Tuesday and said the transferred officials have to be kept away from Lok Sabha poll related duty.
North Korea threatens to shoot down American reconnaissance planes, 'a nuclear war may break out'
North Korea on Monday accused the US of violating its airspace with reconnaissance planes and thr
The applications challenging the three new agricultural laws were heard in the Supreme Court on T
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will blow the bugle for the Delhi assembly elections on Friday. The
Many comments from the address given by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha on Monday
Because of the growing military threat from China, the US State Department has approved the sale
The England team faces much criticism after the crushing defeat to India at Edgbaston. After the
So far, 15 elections have been held for the post of President in the country, in which 14 people
COVID-19: 16 Gathering Coronas Positive In Noonh, Stir In 12 Villages For 12 Days
Nooh: Nooh district of Haryana is emerging as a new hotspot of corona virus. On Tuesday, 16 new c
School Holiday Tamil Nadu: Heavy rain continues in Tamil Nadu. The state government has decided t
Actors, ex-army chief, top cop raise stakes in UP
Lucknow, April 8 (IANS) With a former Indian Army chief, three Bollywood actors and a former to
