Bengal bureaucratic reshuffle: Election Commission removes CS, Home Secretary ahead of polls
The Commission asked the state government to carry out these appointments immediately and confirm by 3 pm that the officers have taken charge.
PTC News Desk: Ahead of the Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India on Monday made major changes in the leadership of the West Bengal Police. The Commission transferred the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) along with three other senior officers and appointed new officials to these positions.
According to the order, Siddh Nath Gupta has been appointed as the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP) in charge of the West Bengal government. Natarajan Ramesh Babu will serve as the Director General of Correctional Services. Ajay Mukund Ranade has been appointed as Additional Director General and Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), while Ajay Kumar Nand will take charge as the Commissioner of **Kolkata Police. The Commission asked the state government to carry out these appointments immediately and confirm by 3 pm that the officers have taken charge.
The Commission also appointed Dushyant Nariala as the new Chief Secretary, replacing Nandini Chakravarty. It said Chakravarty should not be given any election-related duties.
In another order sent to the state government on Sunday night, the poll body directed that Sanghamitra Ghosh be appointed as the Principal Secretary for Home and Hill Affairs.
The Commission said these changes were made after reviewing the state’s preparations for the upcoming elections.