CEC Gyanesh Kumar threatened Bengal govt officers at meet, 'false bravado' unacceptable: CM Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata: In the wake of the visit of ECI full bench, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged the state government officers to not succumb to pressure and "threats from the ECI or CEC Gyanesh Kumar as she alleged that the CEC threatened government officers during a meeting.
Her remarks came against the backdrop of the Election Commission's full bench meeting with senior administrative and police officials of the state earlier in the day, to review preparedness for the West Bengal assembly elections likely to be held in April. Banerjee alleged that there was an attempt to manipulate the votes and EVMs even on the counting day in Bengal.
Also Read: ECI meets parties in West Bengal, max two-phase polling sought
"I want to tell him (CEC) that having courage is good but false bravado is unacceptable," the CM said. Without disrespecting the chair, I want to say that I have heard that officers have been threatened today in the meeting. He (CEC) has said that he will not only take action now but has threatened to take action even after May. Will your chair remain after May? I pity Vanish (referring to Gyanesh) Kumar. First save your chair, then threaten the officers and people of Bengal," Banerjee said. "Is he a 'super god' or a superman? With people like him in the administration, the country's economy will be destroyed," the CM said as she lashed out at ECI while addressing a gathering at her indefinite anti-Special Intensive Revision dharna in central Kolkata.
Raising the EVM tampering issue, Banerjee said, "You are planning a lot of things: tampering with EVM machines or deleting voters. Why was there no logical discrepancy in Bihar but only in Bengal?" Banerjee asked. "We have only one point: everyone must be given the right to vote. Our only issue is to ensure voting rights for all," the TMC supremo said.
Her remarks came against the backdrop of the Election Commission's full bench meeting with senior administrative and police officials of the state earlier in the day, to review preparedness for the West Bengal assembly elections likely to be held in April. Banerjee alleged that there was an attempt to manipulate the votes and EVMs even on the counting day in Bengal.
Also Read: ECI meets parties in West Bengal, max two-phase polling sought
"I want to tell him (CEC) that having courage is good but false bravado is unacceptable," the CM said. Without disrespecting the chair, I want to say that I have heard that officers have been threatened today in the meeting. He (CEC) has said that he will not only take action now but has threatened to take action even after May. Will your chair remain after May? I pity Vanish (referring to Gyanesh) Kumar. First save your chair, then threaten the officers and people of Bengal," Banerjee said. "Is he a 'super god' or a superman? With people like him in the administration, the country's economy will be destroyed," the CM said as she lashed out at ECI while addressing a gathering at her indefinite anti-Special Intensive Revision dharna in central Kolkata.
Raising the EVM tampering issue, Banerjee said, "You are planning a lot of things: tampering with EVM machines or deleting voters. Why was there no logical discrepancy in Bihar but only in Bengal?" Banerjee asked. "We have only one point: everyone must be given the right to vote. Our only issue is to ensure voting rights for all," the TMC supremo said.
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