ECI Orders Third Consecutive Day of Police Transfers in West Bengal
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday mandated the transfer of 19 senior police officers in West Bengal, marking the third successive day of such administrative reshuffles in the poll-bound state. This decisive action underscores the commission's rigorous preparations for the upcoming assembly elections.
Comprehensive Reshuffle Across Police Hierarchy
The extensive transfer list includes the replacement of the ADG/IGPs overseeing the south and north Bengal regions. Additionally, the police commissioners of Howrah, Barrackpore, Chandannagar, and Asansol-Durgapur have been reassigned. The reshuffle extends to superintendents of police (SPs) and deputy commissioners (DCs) across 13 districts, ensuring a widespread administrative overhaul.
Timeline of Transfers and Key Appointments
The initial round of transfers was executed just hours after the ECI announced the assembly election schedule on Sunday for four states, including West Bengal, and the Union territory of Puducherry. Late on Sunday night, West Bengal chief secretary Nandini Chakraborty was removed alongside principal secretary (Home) Jagdish Prasad Meena. The Election Commission appointed IAS officer Dushyant Nariala of the 1993 batch as the new chief secretary and IAS officer Sanghamitra Ghosh of the 1997 batch as principal secretary, Home and Hill Affairs.
The second round of transfers occurred on Monday afternoon within the senior ranks of the West Bengal police. DGP Peeyush Pandey was replaced by 1992-batch IPS officer Siddh Nath Gupta, while Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar was succeeded by Ajay Kumar Nand, an IPS officer of the 1996 batch.
The Election Commission also reshuffled the critical post of ADG and IGP, Law and Order—responsible for managing political clashes, controlling violence, and overseeing security deployment during elections—appointing 1995-batch IPS officer Ajay Mukund Ranade in place of the incumbent. Furthermore, 1991-batch IPS officer Natarajan Ramesh Babu was posted as DG, Correctional Services. All transferred officers have been barred from undertaking any poll-related assignments until the conclusion of the assembly elections in the state.
Political Backlash and Constitutional Mandate
The transfers provoked sharp criticism from the Trinamool Congress in Parliament. TMC MP Derek O’Brien announced a day-long walkout by party MPs from the Rajya Sabha to protest what he termed "transfers made by the EC in the middle of the night."
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, however, emphasized that the poll panel was exercising its constitutional mandate and accused the TMC of routinely attacking constitutional bodies.
Historical Precedents and Electoral Context
In past West Bengal elections, the EC has similarly reshuffled police leadership. During the 2021 assembly polls, DGP Virendra was replaced by P. Nirajnayan, while in the 2024 elections, DGP Rajeev Kumar—recently awarded a Rajya Sabha seat by the Trinamool—was replaced by Vivek Sahay, who was then succeeded by Sanjoy Mukherjee the very next day.
The ECI derives its authority to transfer officers directly involved in elections from Article 324 of the Constitution, which vests it with the power of "superintendence, direction, and control" over the entire poll machinery in a state or Union territory during elections.
Election Schedule and Phases
All 294 assembly constituencies in West Bengal will be contested in two phases: April 23 and 29, with voting for 152 and 142 seats respectively. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, setting the stage for a closely watched electoral outcome.
