New Delhi, 16 March (H.S.): Ahead of West Bengal's Assembly elections, the Election Commission's transfer of the state's Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, DGP, and Kolkata Police Commissioner ignited a fierce political clash, with TMC MPs accusing the Centre of vendetta while Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh defended it as the poll body's constitutional prerogative.

TMC MP Saugata Roy labeled the moves anti-Bengal, warning they complicate the two-phase polls scheduled for late April. Sagarika Ghose alleged a midnight reshuffle to undermine the elected government, citing MP Derek O'Brien raising it in Parliament, prompting a TMC walkout; she further claimed the EC's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) disenfranchised 5 million voters.

TMC's Kirti Azad accused the EC of pandering to BJP, insisting Mamata Banerjee's hold remains unshakable despite multi-phase voting history.

Singh countered that officer transfers fall squarely within the EC's domain, accusing TMC of undermining a constitutional body. He predicted voters would reject TMC's alleged goonda raj, delivering a resounding verdict this time.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar