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Kolkata, Oct 27 (IANS) The West Bengal unit of the BJP requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday afternoon to cancel the massive bureaucratic reshuffle in the state by the Mamata Banerjee government.
The announcement of the large-scale reshuffle, involving district magistrates, additional district magistrates, sub-divisional officers and block development officers, was made hours before Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar announced the dates of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) for 12 states in the country, including West Bengal, where assembly elections are to be held next year.
Soon after the announcement of SIR dates for these 12 states, the West Bengal unit of the BJP sent a letter to the CEC and two election commissioners, claiming that since the transferred officers would be included in the SIR, such transfers were irregular and in complete violation of the ECI guidelines of ordering these transfers without the approval of the Election Commission.
“We also draw your attention to the continued violation of ECI guidelines by the Government of West Bengal and request strong communication from your end, including cancellation of these irregular transfers,” the communication said.
However, the state government had said that such transfers were already on schedule and their announcements were pending only due to the festive season holidays.
However, contrary to the state government’s clarification, the transfer announcements were made only on the holiday as the Bengal government had declared holidays on both Monday and Tuesday.
The transfers ordered by the state government include 17 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, including ten district magistrates (also district returning officers) from ten districts.
A senior bureaucrat in the state government said the transfer of 17 IAS officers, especially 10 district magistrates, in one go was unheard of, at least in recent times.
Bureaucratic circles believe that once the SIR dates are announced, there may be some technical difficulties in the transfer of bureaucrats, especially district magistrates, as the latter also function as district election officers.
The ECI had already clarified that once the vetting process begins, the state government will not be able to transfer election officials at all levels.
–IANS
Source/Red