Kolkata/New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday defended the large-scale transfer of IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal by the Election Commission of India, alleging that many officials in the state had been functioning like cadres of the ruling All India Trinamool Congress and were unable to act independently.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata after releasing the BJP’s charge sheet against the state government, Shah said transfers of officers before elections are a routine exercise across India, but more extensive action was required in West Bengal because of what he described as deep administrative bias.
‘Across India Officers Are Shifted Before Polls, Bengal Needed More Changes’
Shah said the Election Commission routinely transfers officials in poll-bound states to ensure neutrality.
According to him, the higher number of transfers in West Bengal was justified because many officers were allegedly too closely aligned with the state government.
He said that unlike other states, several officers in Bengal were not functioning independently and therefore required replacement ahead of elections.
His remarks come amid ongoing legal and political controversy over the transfer of officers ordered by the Election Commission before the Assembly polls.
Claims Transfers Reduced Ram Navami Violence
The Union Home Minister also linked the administrative reshuffle to law and order during recent Ram Navami processions.
He claimed that fewer incidents of violence were reported this year because officers had been changed before the festival.
His statement came against the backdrop of violence reported from Murshidabad during Ram Navami celebrations on Friday.
Shah said the BJP does not support violence in any form and argued that neutral administration helped reduce tensions.
Mamata Banerjee Accuses BJP of Influencing Poll Panel
Earlier in the day, Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of influencing the Election Commission and alleged that large-scale transfer of IAS and IPS officers was intended to politically benefit the saffron party.
Addressing a rally in Raniganj, she criticised the scale of reshuffle and said it was creating disruption in administration.
She also accused the BJP of crossing political limits and warned that democratic institutions should maintain neutrality.
Shah Attacks TMC Over Electoral Roll Revision and Infiltration
Shah also targeted the Trinamool Congress government over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
He questioned why judicial intervention became necessary in West Bengal while similar exercises in states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu did not trigger comparable disputes.
He alleged that district magistrates in Bengal were unable to function freely and added that the BJP would continue efforts to remove infiltrators.
BJP Sharpens Political Attack Ahead of Elections
Escalating the political attack, Shah alleged that after 15 years of TMC rule, West Bengal had become a major corridor for infiltration.
He accused the ruling party of corruption, appeasement politics, violence and administrative collapse.
In a politically significant statement, he said that Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha — described by him as “Anga, Banga and Kalinga” — were poised to be ruled by the same party.
The remark was seen as a clear signal of BJP’s electoral ambition in Bengal after already being in power in Bihar and Odisha.
