Kolkata: The EC said the transfers of four of its own officials were "routine" and not due to any "irregularities".
CEO Manoj Agarwal on Tuesday said that the transfers were not linked to leaked videos of the CEO's office, which were being used by the Trinamool to level charges of electoral malpractice.
The four WBCS (Exe) officers who were shifted out included deputy CEO Subrata Pal, who was posted to the health department; Narendranath Dutta, an additional secretary in the CEO's office, who was posted to the labour dept; Supriya Das, another additional secretary, who was moved to the food processing dept; and Mithu Sarkar, a joint secretary in the observer cell, who was shifted to the minority affairs dept.
The transfers took place on Monday, shortly after the Trinamool raised allegations that the CEO's office was being misused by the BJP for electoral malpractice.
The CEO emphasised that his office is transparent, there is nothing to hide, and anyone is welcome to visit. He added that there is no mechanism for surveillance or bugging, and they do not tap phones.
"The PAR dept deploys the officers, and they are eventually replaced by another set of officers. Today, we requested some translators. We also ask for officers from the police to serve as observers. Our officers are inquiring into the matter, and once the report is submitted, I will be able to speak more clearly," he said.
Agarwal said that these four officers were not involved in any irregularities. He mentioned that while some people might have leaked videos from the CEO's office for personal gain, he does not intend to launch a probe.
Officials pointed out that Pal, among those transferred, was posted in the CEO's office since 2018 and had played an active role in the Lok Sabha polls of 2019 and 2024, as well as the assembly polls of 2021; he was shifted to keep all controversies at bay.