Kolkata: Senior Bengal govt officials, along with officers from the airport and RBI, faced the Election Commission’s ire on Monday as the poll body’s full bench began its review of Bengal’s poll preparedness. “Everything has a digital footprint. Whether it is a DM, an SP or a police commissioner, no one will be spared if negligence is detected,” a source quoted chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar as saying.A source said Kumar spoke bluntly with Bengal DG (law and order) Vineet Goyal, even telling him to “sit down” while he was responding to an EC query.Later, CM Mamata Banerjee hit back at the “threat” to state officials from her Esplanade protest site. “The CEC threatened our officers today. I want to tell him that courage is good but false bravado is not,” Banerjee said.“Take action. Otherwise, you will end up just sitting here with tea,” a source quoted Kumar as telling officials from 24 state and central agencies. After the EC meeting, Bengal govt officers held a session at the state secretariat.Another source said the CEC conveyed that the commission would not step back after the election period. “The CEC warned that if deliberate discrepancies or negligence are proven, officials will be placed in a position from which there is no return,” the source added.Reacting to this and referring to the CEC as “Vanish”, the CM said: “I am not disrespecting the chair; I refer to the detergent powder used to turn black into white. I heard he threatened officials with action after May. Where will you be after May? It’s ‘His Master’s Voice’. You are playing a damaged record. The people of Bengal will not bow down.”Banerjee also warned sections of the bureaucracy against acting under political pressure, saying that records of their actions were being kept. “Records are being maintained. If BJP goes tomorrow, where will you go? I will be the first to transfer you,” she said, claiming how previously neutral institutions were now acting partisan.According to sources, Kumar questioned why the state lacked a ‘Narcotics Advisory Board.’ Although state authorities promised action, the CEC was not satisfied. When DG Goyal tried to explain, he was asked to sit down.Sources said the EC instructed the state excise department to ensure alcohol production does not exceed normal levels. The commission also questioned why the Reserve Bank of India has not promptly monitored cash circulation in coordination with banks. Airport authorities were criticised for not reporting illegal transactions and told to submit a report immediately.The CM added: “BLOs, EROs and DEOs worked hard for SIR and many ended their lives under pressure. About 190 people have died, yet you say nothing. You will face the reply for this injustice.” Accusing the CEC of snatching voting rights, she cautioned, “One day you will have to fall at the feet of these people. Give rights back to those you deprived.”Urging officers to act, the CEC reportedly said: “Tonight’s the night,” quoting the 1976 Rod Stewart classic. The CM compared the CEC to “Spiderman” and a “super god” while questioning his power after May.However, an EC official said the bench merely assessed preparedness. “Discussions were free and fair. There was no intent to demean anyone; it was to improve things and fill the gaps,” the official added.
