The controversial poster

A mysterious poster, put up at Konnagar, on Kolkata's outskirts in this poll season, is certain to invite the Election Commission's stern gaze. It lampoons deputy election commissioner Vinod Zutshi, who had earlier been targeted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee The poster shows Mr Zutshi's face superimposed on that of a dog that is being kept on a leash by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Narendra Modi , the BJP's presumptive prime minister. The Trinamool Congress chief is shown wagging a finger at the dog. The poster was later removed by the police.No one knows who has sponsored the poster, but relations between the deputy election commission, a 1982-batch, Rajasthan cadre IAS officer presently on central deputation, and the Trinamool Congress have turned bitter of late.Ms Banerjee had earlier this week demanded Mr Zutshi's removal, alleging that he was a "tainted" official who was out on bail. She also accused him of bidding on behalf of the Congress and the BJP, and of misleading the Election Commission.The Election Commission had earlier in the day directed West Bengal Director General of Police, or the DGP, to arrest the Trinamool Congress activists who were involved in the manhandling of officials engaged in poll duty at Malda yesterday. ( Read more ) Three party workers have already been put behind bars on the basis of the video-recording of the entire incident.

On Monday, the Commission ordered the state government to transfer 8 officials to ensure "free and fair" polling in West Bengal. The chief minister initially refused to comply with the directive, but blinked eventually