EC Removes Bengal Chief Secretary, Home Secretary Ahead of Polls
Election Commission reshuffles top bureaucracy in West Bengal ahead of April assembly elections to ensure administrative neutrality.
Kolkata, Mar 16: The Election Commission of India on Sunday removed West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty and Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena shortly after announcing the schedule for the upcoming state assembly elections.
In an official order issued to the state government, the poll body appointed Dushyant Nariala, a 1993 batch IAS officer, as the new chief secretary. Chakravorty has been directed to remain away from any duties connected with the electoral process.
The commission also instructed the government to appoint Sanghamitra Ghosh, a 1997 batch IAS officer, as principal secretary for the Home and Hill Affairs department.
According to the directive signed by commission secretary Sujeet Kumar Mishra, the officers who have been transferred will not be assigned any election related responsibilities until the completion of the polling process.
The commission stated that the administrative changes were made following a review of the state’s preparedness for the upcoming elections. Authorities have been asked to implement the orders immediately and submit a compliance report confirming the joining of the newly appointed officers by Monday afternoon.
The decision comes amid ongoing political tensions between the commission and the ruling Trinamool Congress government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, which has recently criticised the poll body over electoral procedures in the state.
Meanwhile, voting for the West Bengal assembly elections will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
