Forty-eight hours after the Lok Sabha polls were declared, the Election Commission of India (ECI) replaced Kumar with Sanjay Mukherjee (IPS: 1989: WB) as Assembly by-election for four seats was announced. Mukherjee has now been made Director General of Fire and Emergency services. The Chief Minister could have reinstated Kumar just after the conclusion of Lok Sabha elections, but as the ECI announced by-polls of four constituencies, he would have been transferred. So, top brass of the state administration decided to reinstate Kumar after the by-polls results.