Poll panel removes Bengal's 2 top officials after announcing election dates
This story was originally published at 11:35 IST on 16 March 2026
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NEW DELHI – Hours after announcing the dates for the Assembly elections in West Bengal, the Election Commission of India late Sunday replaced the chief secretary and home secretary in the state government. The commission has replaced Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty with Dushyant Nariala, and Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena with Sanghamitra Ghosh.
"Further, the officers transferred out shall not be posted in any election-related posts till the completion of elections," the order said.
On Sunday, the Election Commission of India announced election dates for legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Elections to 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal will be held in two phases on Apr. 23 and Apr. 29. The terms of the assemblies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam are ending in May, while that of Puducherry ends in mid-June. With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect for the four states and the Union territory of Puducherry.
The Election Commission's sudden replacement of the top two administrative officials of the West Bengal government may add fuel to the ongoing hostilities between the poll panel and the Trinamool Congress government in the state. The ruling Trinamool Congress has also moved an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in both Houses of Parliament. End
Reported by Priyasmita Dutta
Edited by Tanima Banerjee
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