LOOKEAST

Prasanta Paul |

ELECTION bells have tolled in West Bengal; and so have the transfer orders, courtesy Election Commission of India.

Less than a couple of hours after the announcement of the assembly poll schedule for five states on Sunday, the Commission juggernaut has started rolling in a firm and decisive manner, demonstrating EC’s resolve to ensure a free and fair election.

In a sweeping administrative reshuffle, the Commission directed the Mamata Banerjee–led Trinamool Congress government to immediately replace the state chief secretary Nandini Chakraborty and home secretary Jagadish Prasad Meena.

In a letter dispatched on 15th March, 2026, the EC stated that Dushyant Nariala, an IAS officer of the 1993 batch, be posted as Chief Secretary of the state Government in place of Chakraborty. And Sanghamitra Ghosh, IAS officer of the 1997 batch, has been posted as Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs, Government of West Bengal replacing Meena.

Secretary of the Election Commission, said in the communique that the directions of the Commission are to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect of the joining of above officers is to be sent by 3PM today

Sujeet Kumar Mishra, Secretary of the Election Commission, said in the communique that the directions of the Commission are to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect of the joining of above officers is to be sent by 3PM today, (16/03.2026).

Further, the officers transferred out shall not be posted in any election–related posts till the completion of elections, the communique said.

The Commission, it said, has conducted a thorough review of the poll preparedness for the general election to the Legislative Assembly and the transfer orders have been issued in accordance with the review report.

Further to this, the Commission has directed the state authorities to provide a full list of ‘Police Station Level Officers under whose jurisdiction incidences of pre-poll, as well as poll day violence in 2021 Assembly Election and pre-poll, poll day as well as post poll violence in 2024 Lok Sabha Election, took place’.

This list has to be forwarded to the Additional Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal within 6 pm today. The Election Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into place soon after the election dates are announced. The poll panel is empowered to order transfer of officials during MCC.

The orders must have ticked off the Trinamool party apparatchiks who frown with suspicion of an alleged collusion between the EC and the BJP at the centre. However, the BJP which is in the opposition in Bengal, has sought to fire the best salvo to deny such allegations. The Commission is an independent body shorn off any political affiliation, it argues. ■