Kolkata (16.03.2026): As widely expected, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered the immediate removal of West Bengal’s top two bureaucrats—Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty (IAS: 1994: WB) and Home Secretary Jagdeesh Prasad Meena (IAS: 2004: WB).
In a new arrangement, the ECI appointed Dushyant Nariala (IAS: 1993: WB) as the new Chief Secretary while Sanghamitra Ghosh (IAS: 1997: WB) as the Principal Secretary (Home & Hill Affairs).
The directive comes less than 24 hours after the ECI announced the schedule for the 2026 Assembly Elections, which will see Bengal vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
The removal of the first woman to hold the post of Chief Secretary in West Bengal is being seen as a pre-emptive measure following a turbulent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. By replacing the top brass just as the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into force, the ECI is signalling its deep concerns over administrative bias.
Further, senior IPS officers too were reshuffled. Siddh Nath Gupta (IPS: 1992: WB) has been appointed as DG and IGP Govt of West Bengal, while Natarajan Ramesh Babu (IPS: 1991: WB) has been appointed as DG, Correctional Services, Govt of West Bengal
Ajay Mukund Ranade (IPS: 1995: WB) was appointed as ADG & IGP, Law & Order, Govt of West Bengal; Ajay Kumar Nand (IPS: 1996: WB) was drafted as Police Commissioner, Kolkata.
All these transferred out IAS and IPS officers will not be given any election-related assignment.
