Kolkata, Apr 8 : The Election Commission has said that it might cancel the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal if the state government doesn’t comply with its order on transfer of the officials.

This comes after The Indian Express reported about the defiant stand of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Banerjee had on Monday had defied EC orders, saying she would “not remove a single officer” and was ready to face the consequences.

Mamata’s remarks came hours after the poll panel ordered the transfer of five superintendents of police and three district magistrates and additional district magistrates.

In its communication to the state chief secretary, the EC ordered the transfer of Birbhum SP Alok Rajoria, West Midnapore SP Bharati Ghosh, Murshidabad SP Humayun Kabir, Burdwan SP M H Mirza, Malda SP R K Yadav, North 24 Parganas DM Sanjay Bansal, Mathurapur Addl DM Alokesh Prasad Roy and West Midnapore Addl DM Arindam Dutta. In its letter, the EC said the officials should be transferred to “non-election related and non-field” posts by Tuesday.

However, the TMC supremo challenged the EC saying, “I will not remove a single officer. Let the EC come and arrest me. I throw this challenge to the EC. I will put in my resignation… I want to see how the EC takes charge of the state’s law and order. I will not be responsible if Jangalmahal is on fire again. How can they transfer so many officers without consulting the state government.”