April 05, 2026 12:06 am (IST)
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Mamata slams ECI over central force deployment in WB polls
Kolkata/Siliguri, Mar 18 (IBNS): West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) for transferring all security related duties, during the assembly polls 2016, to the central paramilitary forces.
While addressing a mass rally in Siliguri city of north Bengal, Mamata Banerjee said, "While a elected government is ruling West Bengal, the Centre is acting like an emergency has been declared here. If West Bengal police will not be allowed to work in this state, then would they bring police force from America? If they do so, we will provide rail-fare, accommodation and food to American police."
"If Central police force provides security in Bengal polls, then we are demanding to deploy police force from America or London during Delhi polls. Election Commission has transferred few of our administrative officials yesterday. All are the outcome of CPI-M, Congress and BJP's false accusation," she added.
Meanwhile, challenging the oppositions, Banerjee said, "I would like to tell CPI-M, BJP and Congress that Election Commission will not give your votes. People of Bengal will press the buttons only. They will elect us again, amid so much slanders."
However, opposition parties' leaders condemned off her words against the ECI.
West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told IBNS, "Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional body. Saying such words, Mamata Banerjee disrespected the ECI."
Few weeks prior to the election, the ECI on Thursday transferred 37 administrative officers, including four SPs, one DM, two SDPOs, one SDO and two District Election Officers (DEO) and twenty-four OCs and ICs, in West Bengal.
Meanwhile, the commission has sent five teams, led by Chief Election Officer (CEO) of five different states, to Bengal for five-day trip on Friday to observe the preparation for upcoming assembly election in the state.
Assembly polls in Bengal will be commencing from April 4.
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
#Mamata Banerjee
# Bengal Polls
# Election Commission
# paramilitary force
# West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee
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