The Election Commission has ordered the immediate transfer of top Bengal officials, including the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary, just hours after announcing the state election schedule.
The move comes as Bengal gears up for two-phase polling on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes set for May 4.
Dushyant Nariala, an IAS officer from the 1993 batch, has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary, replacing Nandini Chakravorty.
Jagdish Prasad Meena, a 2004-batch IAS officer, has been removed as Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs, and will be replaced by Sanghamitra Ghosh, a 1997-batch officer.
The poll body has directed that the transfers take effect immediately, with a compliance report on the new officers' joining due by 3pm on Monday.
The Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP in Bengal have reacted to the move, with the TMC accusing the EC of following orders to satisfy its 'boss', while the BJP has urged the EC to ensure that no officials with links to the ruling party are part of the election machinery.
