Stormy Mamata battles tempest ahead of Bengal polls

Mamata Banerjee was Thursday waging a hardy battle with Modi government that demanded three of her IPS officers on central deputation against her will, and ar with mutius TMC leers led by a regional satrap seeking to thwart her bid for a third term in office.

As West Bengal chief minister was busy containing fallout of an internecine feud in her TMC following a rebellion by a redoubtable Suvendu hikari, Centre shot off a fresh letter to her government to immediately relieve three IPS officers for central deputation.

Suitably provoked, a combative Banerjee dubbed move "unconstitutional and unacceptable" and a "brazen attempt to control state machinery by proxy", escalating tensions between state and Centre.

Centre's missive came on a day when Suvendu hikari, considered a leer with mass appeal that any TMC leer could have after Mamata, quit party, amid intense speculation about his joining BJP at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's rally in East Midnapore on Saturday.

hikari, face of Nandigram movement against Left Front government's land acquisition policy for rapid industrialisation, h aided Banerjee's rise to power in 2011 when she decimated Left and Congress.

assembly polls in 2016 were a breeze for tempestuous leer, who w appears bracing for a storm.

Five days after West Bengal government said it will t relieve three IPS officers, Centre sent a fresh missive on Thursday, asking state to immediately release m so y could take up ir new assignments.

In a communication to West Bengal chief secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, according to IPS cre rules, Centre prevails over a state government in case of any dispute between two.

Quoting rules, MHA ted in case of any disagreement between central and state governments, "state governments concerned shall give effect to decision of central government".

three officers -- Bholanath Pandey (SP, Diamond Harbour), Praveen Tripathi (DIG, Presidency Range) and Rajeev Mishra (G, South Bengal) -- were responsible for security of BJP chief J P Nda during his December 9-10 visit to politically volatile state.

Centre wants m shifted account of alleged dereliction of duty that led to an attack on Nda's convoy in Diamond Harbour constituency of TMC MP and Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Several vehicles in convoy were damd and BJP leers received injuries in attack.

A livid Banerjee responded with expected anger.

"This move, particularly before elections is against basic tenets of federal structure. It's unconstitutional & completely unacceptable!" she said.

"GoI's (Government of India) order of central deputation for 3 serving IPS officers of West Bengal despite State's objection is a colourable exercise of power and blatant misuse of emergency provision of IPS Cre Rule 1954," Banerjee tweeted.

In its letter, home ministry insisted that in accordance with IPS cre rules, Centre prevails over state in case of a dispute.

However, Banerjee recalcitrantly asserted in ar tweet, "We wouldnt allow this brazen attempt by Centre to control State machinery by proxy! West Bengal is t going to cow-down in front of expansionist & undemocratic forces." hikari, a two-term MLA and twice Lok Sabha member, meanwhile, resigned from primary membership of party.

"I am writing to tender my resignation as a member of All India Trinamool Congress as well as from all or positions held by me in party and its associate organs with immediate effect," hikari wrote.

Ending his two-dece-old association with party, political heavyweight thanked Banerjee for opportunities she gave him, and said would he will always value time he spent as its member.

hikari h resigned as a member of Mamata Banerjee cabinet and from several or posts that he held last month.

A seasoned politician that he is, hikari delayed his resignation from state assembly and TMC, all while testing political waters.

On Wednesday night, he held a closed-door meeting with several disgruntled TMC leers,including Asansol civic body chief Jitendra Tiwari and senior MP Sunil Mandal.

Tiwari, an MLA from Pandebeshwar constituency who recently slammed state government for allegedly depriving industrial town of central funds for "political reasons", resigned as chairman of Board of ministrators of Asansol Municipal Corporation on Thursday afteron.

Senior TMC leer Diptangshu Choudhary, who, too, was present at meeting, has also quit as South Bengal State Transport Corporation chairman.

As an abrasive Banerjee claimed only those t wedded to TMC's ideology and concerned about t getting party tickets were jumping ship, BJP claimed it was "beginning of end" for West Bengal's ruling party which will w "collapse like a house of cards".

Hailing hikari's decision, BJP national vice president Mukul Roy claimed that "this is beginning of end of ruling party which will w collapse like a house of cards". "We will welcome Suvendu with open arms," he said.

" day Suvendu hikari resigned from state cabinet, I h said I would be happy if he leaves TMC and joins BJP. Today, he has left party. We will be happy to welcome him," Roy said.

hikari's far Sisir hikari and bror Dibyendu are sitting TMC MPs from Tamluk and Kanthi Lok Sabha constituencies respectively. Ar bror is an MLA and hes local municipal body.

family wields considerable influence over at least 40-45 assembly seats in Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, parts of Birbhum -- mainly in Junglemahal region -- and some areas in Muslim-dominated Murshidab district.

Im Credits: PTI