Kolkata, 16 March (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission, alleging bias following the transfer of senior bureaucrats and police officers soon after the announcement of the Assembly election schedule.

Addressing a protest rally against the recent LPG price hike and alleged supply disruptions at Dorina Crossing in central Kolkata, Banerjee asserted that administrative reshuffles would not affect her party’s electoral prospects. She said changing officers would not change the government in West Bengal and maintained that whoever is posted in the state would ultimately work in the interest of Bengal.

Banerjee also criticised the removal of state Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, alleging that the decision was taken without consulting the state government. She termed the move anti-women and anti-Bengal, claiming that a Bengali woman officer was removed abruptly without proper consultation. Referring to the transfer of Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena, she described him as a capable officer and alleged that such actions reflected a lack of respect for the state’s administrative system.

The Chief Minister also accused the BJP of being linked to an alleged attack on the residence of state minister Sashi Panja. In a sharp remark, she said if the BJP had the courage it should target her or other senior Trinamool Congress leaders, adding that her party was capable of responding politically and democratically.

On the issue of LPG supply, Banerjee claimed that there was no actual shortage of cooking gas in the state and alleged that an artificial crisis had been created. She said discussions with representatives of oil companies indicated that supplies were adequate and suggested that technical disruptions may have affected distribution.

Banerjee led a protest march from College Square to Dorina Crossing against the LPG price hike and in support of democratic rights. Thousands of party supporters participated in the rally, which also led to traffic disruptions in parts of central Kolkata.

The developments come a day after the Election Commission announced that polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting to be held on a later notified date. Political activity in the state has intensified following the announcement of the election schedule.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh