Election Commission Removes Top Officials in Poll-Bound West Bengal, Orders Immediate Transfers

Kolkata: In a major administrative move ahead of elections in West Bengal, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered the removal and transfer of several top state officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary, to ensure a neutral administrative environment during the poll process.

According to the Commission’s directive, the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary of West Bengal have been removed from their current positions with immediate effect. The poll body also ordered the transfer of key law enforcement officials, including the Commissioner of Kolkata Police, the Director General of Police (DGP) of the state, and the Additional Director General (ADG) in charge of Law and Order.

Officials said the decision was taken as part of the Election Commission’s standard practice of reshuffling senior administrative and police officers in poll-bound states to maintain fairness and transparency in the electoral process.

The Commission has instructed the state government to implement the transfers immediately and ensure that replacement officers assume their duties without delay. The ECI has also directed the authorities to submit a report confirming that the newly appointed officers have joined their respective posts by 3 p.m. on March 16.

Sources said the move is intended to ensure that the administration and police machinery function impartially during the election period. The Election Commission typically takes such steps to prevent any possible influence on the conduct of elections.

The development has triggered political reactions in the state, with parties closely monitoring the administrative changes ahead of the upcoming polls. Meanwhile, officials in the state secretariat began taking steps to comply with the Election Commission’s directive.

The Commission reiterated that maintaining a level playing field for all political parties and ensuring free and fair elections remains its top priority as the state prepares for the electoral process.