West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a fierce attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) following the late-night transfer of top state officials, including Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Home Secretary J.P. Meena. Speaking at a rally in Kolkata, Banerjee questioned the timing of the moves, noting she received the notification at 1:00 AM. She characterized the transfers as “anti-Bengali and anti-women,” specifically highlighting the removal of Chakraborty, a prominent Bengali woman in the administration.
The Chief Minister expressed deep concern over the ECI’s departure from established protocols, alleging that the commission acted suo motu (on its own motion) instead of requesting a panel of names from the state government as per tradition. She likened the federal oversight to a “zamindari” system and accused the BJP of using the ECI as a proxy to sabotage her administration. Banerjee argued that by summarily removing officials like Director General of Police Piyush Pandey, the Centre is cherry-picking individuals to serve a specific political agenda rather than the public interest.
Beyond administrative grievances, Banerjee used a protest march against rising cooking gas prices to warn of potential security threats, claiming her residence in Kalighat might be targeted next. While urging her supporters to remain calm and avoid provocations, she maintained a defiant stance, challenging the opposition to try and disrupt her government. She concluded by asserting that despite the reshuffling of high-ranking officials, the grassroots support for her government remains unshaken, promising that the people would ultimately decide the state’s future at the polls.
