The standoff between the Election Commission and the West Bengal Government on the issue of transfer of officials finally ended late last evening with the state government's retreat, accepting the order on transfer of eight government officials.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee has agreed to implement the Commission's latest order to tranfer eight officials. She said in Durgapur in Burdwan district last night that she respects the Election Commission and will comply with the order within the stipulated time.

Our correspondent reports that Banerjee has said that the officers tranferred by the Election Commission will join their previous places of posting after the Lok Sabha elections. He adds that with the announcement of Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee agreeing to comply with the order of the Election Commission, the possible constitutional crisis is over.

The State government will send the compliance letter to the Commission this morning. Earlier, the West Bengal government urged the Election Commission to reconsider its decision to transfer eight senior district officers on the plea that this may affect law and order situation in the concerned area.

However, the Election Commission turned down the state government's plea. Opposition political parties have also criticised the Chief Minister for her comments against the constitutional body-the Election Commission of India.

Political observers say that Ms Banerjee earlier also entered into confrontation with the State Election Commission over deployment of central forces in the last Panchayat elections in the state which was settled after intervention of the Supreme Court.