Sweeping transfers by EC only happen in non-BJP-governed states: Omar

NEW DELHI: J&K CM and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday came out strongly in support of his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on the issue of Election Commission transferring officials in poll-bound Bengal, saying these “sweeping transfers only happen in non-BJP-governed states”.“Bengal will once again prove that officers don’t win elections for political parties, the leaders of political parties do,” said Omar, an INDIA bloc ally, reacting to Mamata’s Thursday post on X in which she alleged that the manner in which EC has “singled out and targeted Bengal is not just unprecedented but deeply alarming”. Even before the formal notification of elections, more than 50 senior officials, including chief secretary, home secretary and DGP, were “summarily and arbitrarily removed”, she alleged.Sharing Mamata’s post, Omar said, “No amount of effort by EC to gerrymander will change the results. Come counting day Mamata didi will win a thumping majority.”Highlighting that various parties have come forward to support Mamata, her party TMC shared a video clip of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, while talking to reporters, saying, “I want to congratulate respected Mamata Banerjee in advance and said the people of Bengal will vote in her favour.” He said that the conspiracy led by BJP to defeat her, including the recent transfer of officials, will not work. “It is people who vote not the officials,” Akhilesh said.On Thursday, after Mamata’s post, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had posted, “BJP has turned EC into its weapon to win elections through deceit. What is happening today in Bengal is exactly what happened in the Delhi elections as well.” “Names were struck off the voter list, the police administration gave free rein to BJP’s thuggery, and the entire administration was engaged in ensuring BJP’s victory. The very fabric of democracy was torn apart,” he added.AAP, which is not part of the INDIA bloc, had signed the opposition’s notice, piloted by TMC, seeking a motion for removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar that was submitted to both Houses of Parliament last week.Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut said on X that “defeating Mamata didi in West Bengal is not just difficult, it’s impossible! That’s why BJP is playing dirty by hiding behind the shield of EC”.