West Bengal 2026 Assembly elections: Election Commission removes Chief Secretary, Home Secretary in poll-bound state
The commission appointed Dushyant Nariala, an IAS officer from the 1993 batch, as the state’s principal secretary and said Chakravorty would be kept away from poll-related duties.
The poll panel also removed West Bengal Home Minister Jagdish Prasad Meena.
In a letter sent to the state government on Sunday night, the poll panel also directed the appointment of 1997-batch IAS officer Sanghamitra Ghosh as principal secretary, Home and Hill Affairs.
“…the transferred officers will not be assigned to any election-related duty until the elections are completed,” the letter signed by commission secretary Sujeet Kr Mishra said. It was said.
The decision to dismiss the two officers was taken after reviewing the state’s poll preparations, the EC said.
The poll panel said its directions would be implemented with immediate effect and sought a report on the amalgamation of the two officers in their respective offices by 3pm on Monday. The unprecedented change in West Bengal’s recent administrative history came into effect after the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress dispensation constantly criticized the poll body for the ongoing practice of SIR in the state.
Some sections of the state’s political circles claimed that this move was made to ensure administrative neutrality during the elections.
Assembly elections in the state will be held on April 23 and 29, and votes will be counted on May 4.
