Bengal Election: EC Removes Mamata's Security Officer Ahead Of Phase 4 Polls

EC removes Mamata security: A day prior to West Bengal heading into its fourth phase of polls for the state assembly election, the Election Commission (EC) has removed the security officer assigned to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

As per reports, Ashok Chakraborty, Officer on Special Duty, has been removed with immediate effect.

This is the second time the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief's security detail has been removed, the first being in March following the alleged attack against her in Nandigram. Vivek Sahay, Bengal's director of security, and Superintendent of Police Pravin Prakash had been suspended after charges of a "security lapse."

Chakraborty's removal comes following two EC notices issued to Banerjee in the duration of her election campaign and her own public rebuttals against the commission at her rallies.

Following Two Showcause Notices, EC Removes Mamata Security

Following political clashes at poll booths during the initial election phases in Bengal, the TMC supremo had alleged the EC and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) assigned on duty were siding with "goons" from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"I apologise to my Election Commission for their silence. We have given so many letters but they are one-sidedly supporting BJP candidates," she was quoted saying after violence was reported at a booth in Boyal, Nandigram on April 1.

At a rally on April 3 in Tarakeshwar, the TMC chief made a communally charged appeal to "minority voters" to not let their votes be divided between parties.

For her remarks on the CRPF and minority voters appeal, the top election body sent show-cause notices to Banerjee, asking her to explain both incidents. For acting against the 'model code of conduct,' Banerjee could reportedly be charged under sections 186, 189, 505 of the IPC.

The Bengal CM, however, appears to be unfazed, responding to the EC's notices at a rally in Jamalpur: "I will continue speaking about interference by CPRF till it stops working for the BJP... I do not care anything about your (ECI’s) showcause letters.”