The Election Commission of India has directed the transfer of 13 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers who serve as District Magistrates (DMs) and district electoral officers (DEOs) in West Bengal. Among the appointments, Jitin Jadav from the 2016 batch will take charge as the new DM-cum-DEO of Cooch Behar district. Sandeep Ghosh, also from the 2016 batch, is appointed as the new DM-cum-DEO of Jalpaiguri district.
Vikek Kumar from the 2016 batch has been named the new DM-cum-DEO of North Dinajpur district, while Rajanveer Singh Kapur from the 2012 batch will assume office in the sensitive Malda district. R. Arjun from the 2010 batch is appointed as the new DM-cum-DEO of the super-sensitive Murshidabad district. Srikant Palli from the 2015 batch will take over as the DM-cum-DEO of Nadia district.
Sweta Agarwal from the 2016 batch is designated as the new DM-cum-DEO of East Burdwan district. Smita Pandey from the 2005 batch is appointed as the new Municipal Commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC)-cum-DEO of the electoral district of Kolkata (Uttar). Randhir Kumar from the 2006 batch will serve as the new DEO of the electoral district of Kolkata (Dakshin).
Silpa Gourisaria from the 2009 batch is named the new DM-cum-DEO of North 24 Parganas district adjacent to Kolkata. Abhishek Kumar Tiwary from the 2012 batch will take over as the DM-cum-DEO of South 24 Parganas district. Harishankar Panicker from the 2013 batch is appointed as the new DM-cum-DEO of Darjeeling, and T. Balasubramanian from the 2013 batch will serve as the DM-cum-DEO of Alipurduar district.
The Election Commission of India also ordered the transfer of five IPS officers who hold the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and are in charge of specific ranges under a division in the state. These transfers come in preparation for the upcoming two-phase polling in West Bengal next month, with periodic orders issued for the transfer of bureaucrats and police officers at various levels.
A source from the CEO’s office mentioned that the transfer process began with top-ranking officials like chief secretaries and home secretaries, followed by mid-level officers such as DMs and DIGs. Subsequent transfers will involve lower-level officers like additional district magistrates, sub-divisional officers, and block development officers in general administration, along with additional superintendents, deputy superintendents, and other police personnel.
