Kolkata, 16 March (H.S.): A political row erupted in West Bengal after a series of administrative and police-level reshuffles were carried out within 24 hours of the announcement of the assembly election schedule in the state.

The move by the Election Commission of India to remove the state’s chief secretary and home secretary drew sharp criticism from the ruling All India Trinamool Congress.

Within hours of announcing the poll schedule on Sunday, the commission removed chief secretary Nandini Chakraborty and home secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena from their posts, triggering intense political debate in the state.

Trinamool Congress MPs also protested the decision in Parliament. Party leaders Derek O'Brien, Sagarika Ghose and Nadimul Haque staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha over the issue.

Ghose later said the decision to replace the officials at midnight was unacceptable and alleged that the commission was misusing its powers despite the presence of an elected government in the state led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Meanwhile, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming the transfers were a “panic reaction” by the saffron party. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he alleged that the BJP feared defeat in the upcoming elections and was using the poll panel to push through hurried decisions.

Ghosh asserted that the BJP had little connection with the people of Bengal and lacked public support, adding that administrative changes would not alter the people’s faith in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Election Commission also carried out changes at the top level of the state police. Piyush Pandey was replaced as director general of police by Siddhanath Gupta, while Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar was replaced by Ajay Kumar Nanda.

The reshuffle has intensified the political war of words between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP ahead of the assembly elections.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey