West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s outbursts against the Election Commission over transfer of officials has created a “constitutional crisis” and set a bad precedent, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee said on Tuesday.
“According to the Constitution once the elections are declared, the Election Commission has every right to transfer officials if it feels so. Now the chief minister is saying something different. It has created a constitutional crisis,” he said.
The matter has set a bad precedent and should be solved immediately, he said.
Election authorities in West Bengal on Monday ordered immediate removal of five superintendents of police and one district magistrate from poll duties, triggering a showdown with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who defied the directive.
A furious Mr. Banerjee had said none of the officials would be shifted as long as she is the chief minister and dared the poll panel to act against her while asserting she is prepared to be arrested and go to jail.
