Kolkata, March 16: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her concerns to the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, regarding the recent transfers of several IAS and IPS officers in the state. In her letter, Banerjee alleged that these significant administrative changes were made without solid justification or any formal accusations, shortly after the announcement of the assembly elections.
She highlighted that top administrative officials in West Bengal were removed just hours after the announcement of the 2026 assembly elections, describing the decision as surprising and alarming. The Chief Minister criticized the arbitrary nature of the transfers, noting that the state government was not consulted for a panel of officers, which deviates from established practices between the Election Commission and the state government during previous elections.
This development follows a major reshuffle in the state administration by the Election Commission, which included the overnight transfer of Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Home Secretary J.P. Meena. Additionally, several senior officers from the police department, including the Director General of Police and the Kolkata Police Commissioner, were also reassigned.
Banerjee raised objections to this move, stating that such actions undermine the spirit of cooperative federalism and the principles of democratic governance. She urged the Election Commission to refrain from making unilateral decisions in the future, warning that it could impact the credibility and institutional integrity of the Commission.