TMC slams ECI order to remove politicians heading civic bodies

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday ordered that politicians in West Bengal, appointed as administrative heads of civic corporations and municipalities beyond their terms, should be replaced by government officers by 10 am on Monday, triggering a sharp reaction from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, who said it was a move against the ruling party prior to the eight-phase assembly polls, beginning on March 27. The commission orders said "to avoid a situation where critical functions of urban local bodies are actually discharged, thereby affecting the level playing field during the operation of Model Code of Conduct….” Since the administrators are politically affiliated persons, the present situation may “give rise to a legitimate apprehension in the mind of the voters about the fairness and impartiality of the election process,” the ECI said.

The TMC controls most of the 120 civic bodies in Bengal. The terms of the elected boards ended last year but fresh elections were not held because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The state government appointed the elected heads of the civic boards as administrators till fresh polls are held. The ECI asked the government to set up a committee headed by the chief secretary for appointment of officials who will serve as administrators or heads of board of administrators during the elections. The appointment of the administrators was earlier challenged at the Calcutta high court. The court did not entertain the demand for their removal. The ECI has done what the high court didn’t, said TMC Lok Sabha member and party spokesperson Saugata Roy.