‘Work independently,’ Mamata urges officers deputed by EC

Kolkata: Alleging bias by the Election Commission and officers deputed by it, CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said "if you are an IPS or IAS, you must work independently". "Do politics directly," she said, referring to officers she claimed were allegedly siding with BJP.

Addressing multiple rallies in Haldia, North 24 Parganas and Kolkata, Banerjee said: "I am not telling you to support us; I will request you to work independently, not one-sided." The CM reiterated that "no wrong done now will be brushed aside".



"Every single case will be judged, there will be a probe. No matter where someone comes from or where they stay, I will find them and make them eat laddoos made with stinging nettle," she said. At a rally later, Banerjee said she would "drag every one of them to court, if not today then tomorrow, and ensure justice".

Speaking at a Jagatdal rally, the CM questioned the EC's silence over former IPS officer (now BJP candidate) Rajesh Kumar's statement to "hang Trinamool workers". She also apprehended that TMC candidate Somnath Shyam could be arrested before polls.

"He (Kumar) says in meetings that he will hang TMC members from trees and beat them. Save yourself first. If you give such threats before polls, what will become of you once it's over?" she said.

Lamenting that she has harboured traitors, Banerjee said, "The person who is standing as a BJP candidate here, I have nurtured him. He asked me for a ticket, but I didn't give it. I put him in the Pollution Control Board."

Referring to the fact that she is perceived to be soft, the CM said, "Abhishek (TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee) sometimes tells me, ‘can't you be a bit strict? Why are you so weak?' I should have put him in jail that very day; I gave Rajesh Kumar a chance, he misused that."

Banerjee said she herself was facing EC bias in Bhowanipore, where she is a candidate. "They have brought that traitor to Bhowanipore as a returning officer. He says ‘I won't give permission'. Since you live in Baruipur, we were the ones who made you a BDO; you don't even have the qualification to be a returning officer. I don't need to hold a meeting; if I just stand on the road and speak, everyone will come."

Banerjee claimed three wards in her constituency, 74, 77 and 63, have been selected where "they will use central forces to rig votes". "Wherever there is trouble, I will be present," she said.

Earlier, speaking in Haldia, Banerjee took on the Adhikaris, singling out Suvendu for her sharpest attack. Without naming him, she said, "Today you are in power in BJP, roaming around with 20 cars. You cannot fight Abhishek and you will fight me? I am telling you — Abhishek will take responsibility for Midnapore. I will remain, it is my responsibility to uproot these traitors."
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