KOLKATA — West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has escalated her confrontation with the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing the poll body of “crossing all boundaries of decency” following the overnight transfer of top bureaucrats and IPS officers. In her eighth letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, dated March 20, 2026, Banerjee alleged that the Commission’s actions are a direct assault on cooperative federalism.
The “Emergency-Like” Crackdown
The Chief Minister expressed “deep shock” over what she termed the unilateral removal of senior officials, including:
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Top Brass: The Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Director General of Police (DGP).
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Ground Administration: Multiple District Magistrates and high-ranking police officers.
Banerjee argued these transfers were made without “cogent reasons” or any recorded violations of the Model Code of Conduct. She warned that removing veteran officers during the storm-prone months of March and April could paralyze disaster response and law and order.
Allegations of Political Overreach
The letter highlights several points of contention as the state prepares for the 294-member Assembly elections:
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Mala Fide Intent: The CM claimed transferring officials during the ongoing electoral roll revision is a deliberate attempt to disrupt the process.
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Misuse of Authority: She questioned the “arbitrary” deployment of West Bengal police officers as observers in other states, calling it a “serious overreach.”
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Constitutional Propriety: Banerjee cautioned that the ECI’s current functioning creates an atmosphere akin to “indirect central rule” or a state of emergency.
The Road to April 23
With the West Bengal assembly polls scheduled in two phases—April 23 and April 29—the political temperature in the state has reached a boiling point. The state government has already approached the Supreme Court over the issue, which Banerjee noted has acknowledged the concerns raised.
As the state heads toward the May 4 counting day, the battle between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the ECI remains a central flashpoint in the 2026 electoral cycle.
