Reconsider transfer of officials, Bengal urges EC

Kolkata, April 8 (IANS) A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee threatened to defy the Election Commission's order for removal of eight officials from poll duty, the state government Tuesday urged the poll panel to reconsider the decision.

"Contending that the removal of the officers would create law and order problems, Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra wrote to the EC urging it to reconsider its decision to transfer the officers," said a source in the office of the chief electoral officer.

The poll panel Monday ordered the transfer of eight West Bengal officials, including five district police chiefs and one district magistrate, asking the state government to implement the order by Tuesday.

However, a defiant Banerjee refused to carry out the instruction and said she was even prepared to go to jail.

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 the state chief secretary Monday.

The superintendents of police - in charge of West Midnapore, Burdwan, Birbhum, Malda and North 24 Parganas districts - were involved in the reshuffle along with the district magistrate of North 24 Parganas.

Seven of the officials, including two additional district magistrates, removed from their post during the day, have been relieved from poll duty, while Birbhum Superintendent of Police Alok Rajoria was shifted to the vacant post of superintendent of police of Jhargram district.