"Centre's West Bengal Interference Condemnable, Autocratic": Political Leaders Back Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, engaged in an intense battle with the central government over administrative and policing issues, has found support from multiple quarters across the country ranging from Chhattisgarh to Tamil Nadu

DMK chief MK Stalin, for instance, has said in this context that the civil service of the country must not be dictated by the "whims and fancies of the ruling party in Delhi".

In a tweet posted today, Mr Stalin said, "The unilateral transfer of 3 West Bengal IPS officers by the Union BJP Govt is autocratic and anti-federal...I urge @PMOIndia to immediately rescind the transfer order."

He was referring to the Union government recent summoning of three West Bengal IPS officers on central deputation despite the state government's opposition to such a move.

A day earlier, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had "condemned" what he viewed as the "Centre's interference" in the state's affairs.

In a tweet posted on Friday, Mr Baghel said "federalism was stake again". He quoted Ms Banerjee's tweet in which she sought to call out the "blatant misuse" of Indian Police Service emergency provisions by the central government.

Federalism is at stake yet again. The BJP govt at centre has enchroached the state's area of administration and transfered officers. And that too before elections.
Centre's interference is highly objectionable and condemnable. https://t.co/GdXxMjp5SK

— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) December 18, 2020

Following the Union government's summons to the three Bengal IPS officers, Ms Banerjee, on December 17, tweeted: "The government's order of central deputation for the three serving IPS officers of West Bengal despite the state's objection is a colourable exercise of power and blatant misuse of emergency provision of IPS Cadre Rule 1954."

The officers were summoned a day after an attack on BJP President JP Nadda's convoy near Kolkata last week.

The BJP has channelled considerable time and resources towards West Bengal in the past many months, keeping mind the upcoming state Assembly election. The party is keen on securing at least 200 seats in the 294-member West Bengal House. The ruling Trinamool, on its part, has aggressively countered the BJP's moves, making the state polls a high-stakes game.