West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is facing the most challenging election battle of her political career. He has accused the main opposition party and the Election Commission of creating a state of undeclared emergency against him and his party TMC.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is facing the most challenging election battle of her political career. He has accused the main opposition party and the Election Commission of creating a state of undeclared emergency against him and his party TMC. Mamata Banerjee said at the beginning of her election rally, “No matter how secretly you impose President’s rule, I alone am a hundred.
There is not enough fear and courage to discuss with me. Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP, CP all were changed. If any accident happens then BJP and Vanish Kumar will be responsible. After a month, only I and their people will be there.”
PIL filed in High Court
Arak Kumar Nag, a member of the panel of lawyers of Mamata government and TMC, filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta High Court. The bench includes Chief Justice Sujay Pal and Justice Parthasarathy Sen. TMC MP and lawyer Kalyan Banerjee questioned in the hearing whether President’s rule has been imposed in the state, as this doubt has arisen on the basis of recent transfers and administrative reshuffle.
Why does it feel like undeclared President’s rule?
This time assembly elections in West Bengal will be held in two phases on 23 and 29 April. This is the first time in 49 years that voting is being held in only two phases in the state. Traditionally, the ruling party got the advantage when voting was held in seven-eight phases. The Election Commission announced the assembly elections on the evening of March 15. The same night, the Commission appointed and transferred several senior administrative officials. This included:
- Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty
- Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena
- DGP, CP Kolkata, ADG Law & Order, DIG
After this, fifteen IPS officers were sent as observers to other states. Three days later, on March 18, DMs of 11 districts were transferred. The districts included in this are Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, North Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, East Burdwan, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Darjeeling and Alipurduar.
On March 23, 73 returning officers out of 294 assembly seats were also transferred. Among these, transfers related to Nandigram and Bhawanipur are especially in discussion.
Transfer of Returning Officer and Voter List
Returning officers play an important role in the election process. This time, maximum 13 transfers have taken place in North 24 Parganas, followed by 10 each in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. The third voter list has also been published, but the final list is yet to come. How many names will be cut in this list will be revealed after the final list. The names of 11 TMC candidates are still hanging in the balance. However, it is already estimated that the names of about 75 lakh voters have been deleted.
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