Mamata Banerjee has strongly criticised the Election Commission of India for transferring top bureaucrats and police officials in West Bengal soon after announcing the assembly elections, alleging bias and calling the move “anti-women and anti-Bengal”.

Addressing a rally at Dorina Crossing in central Kolkata during a protest march over the LPG crisis, the Trinamool Congress chief accused the poll panel and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting Bengal’s administration. She asserted that no amount of reshuffling of officials would impact the electoral outcome.

“It doesn’t matter who you appoint as replacement officers; they will all work for Bengal,” Banerjee said, in a veiled attack on the Election Commission.

Her remarks follow a series of late-night orders issued by the poll body, including the removal of Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty and Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena. Chakravorty has been replaced by 1993-batch IAS officer Dushyant Nariala.

Banerjee took particular exception to the timing and manner of Chakravorty’s removal. “They chose the hour of midnight to remove a Bengali woman chief secretary without consulting the state government. It shows how anti-women they are,” she said.

The Election Commission also replaced Director General of Police Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar in a separate order.

Referring to the transfer of Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena, Banerjee alleged a pattern of disregard for Bengal’s administrative setup. “Our home secretary is a non-Bengali. His removal reflects their deep disdain for efficient officers serving Bengal,” she said.

In a sharp message, the chief minister warned against what she described as overreach by the Centre and the poll panel. “Don’t treat Bengal as your zamindari. You may change district magistrates, SPs, or inspectors, but you cannot change the people. They earned their positions through merit—you have no right to insult them,” she added.

Later, Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, expressing “deep concern and surprise” over what she termed “unilateral” transfer orders issued on March 15 and 16. In her letter, she objected to the reassignment of key officials, including the chief secretary, home secretary, and DGP, without consulting the state government.

The developments have intensified the political confrontation in West Bengal ahead of the assembly polls, with the Trinamool Congress positioning the issue as an attack on the state’s autonomy and administrative integrity.