Bengal: In campaign’s final stage, EC orders steal limelight

KOLKATA: Campaigning for the last phase of polls ended in Bengal on Thursday, a day earlier than scheduled, with Trinamool using the Election Commission’s order itself as a weapon against the BJP. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee called the EC “BJP-r bhai (BJP’s brother)” in her most vitriolic attack on PM Narendra Modi.
Modi hit back sharply. “Didi is abusing the EC and central forces today. But there was a time when, during the Left rule, she used to demand central forces. Had the EC and central forces not conducted free and fair polls, she would have never been the CM of Bengal,” he said.

On Wednesday, the EC had relieved state home secretary Atri Bhattacharya and ADG CID Rajeev Kumar. A day later, the poll body kept the pressure up, relieving Amherst Street officer-in-charge Kaushik Das and Diamond Harbour SDPO Mithun Kumar Dey. “The EC is BJP’s brother. This is unfortunate but true,” the CM said.
Banerjee was hardly alone in her battle. Former UP CMs Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav, former Bihar CM Rabri Devi and her son Tejashwi, former J&K CM Omar Abdullah, former Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu and leaders Yashwant Sinha, Sharad Yadav and M K Stalin all supported her.
All eyes on fate of Rajeev Kumar
On Wednesday, the chief minister had left enough indications that the EC’s decisions were being documented, indicating the state may make a legal move after the declaration of results on May 23. On Thursday, however, although still smarting at the EC’s action, the state chose not to raise legal and procedural concerns. Kumar, who was asked to report at North Block at 10am, reached Delhi at 12.20pm. He reported a couple of hours later. Sources said the delay was due to handing over charge as ADG CID and procedural formalities in booking a Delhi flight. He did not respond to calls.
It is still not clear whether Kumar will be put on compulsory waiting or assigned any charge by the MHA. According to sources, the decision could be delayed till the formation of the next government. The state will be watching the developments anxiously. ‘Can Kumar return to his home cadre (West Bengal) unless relieved by the MHA?’, seems to be the million-rupee question. The EC’s role ends with the declaration of results on May 23 but a cadre shift from state to Centre is beset with its own set of complications.
Bhattacharya on Wednesday night handed over charge to state chief secretary Malay De. He didn’t attend his Nabanna office during the day. Bhattacharya is also the principal secretary, tourism. Sources close to the developments say Bhattacharya’s transfer order is curious. The EC order says he had interfered “in the process of conducting the elections by directing CEO, West Bengal …” Bhattacharya, in his May 13 letter to CEO Aariz Aftab, had requested a re-examination of a procedure relating to central forces. “How can it be deemed to be a direction?” a source asked.
On Thursday, the EC acceded to Bhattacharya’s request (in his May 13 letter) and indicated that a state police officer will accompany the 444 quick response teams (QRTs), which will be deployed on poll day on Sunday.