Kolkata, 16 March (H.S.): In a swift move following the announcement of the assembly election schedule in West Bengal, the Election Commission of India on Sunday ordered the removal of the state’s chief secretary and home secretary, along with other senior administrative officials.

According to an official communication issued late on Sunday night, Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty has been replaced by 1993-batch IAS officer Dushmanta Nariala.

The commission also replaced Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena with 1997-batch IAS officer Sanghamitra Ghosh, who has been appointed as principal secretary in charge of the Home and Hill Affairs Department. Ghosh was earlier serving as secretary of the state’s women and child development department.

The commission directed that the new chief secretary and home secretary must assume charge by 3 pm on Monday.

Sources said the poll panel may also order changes in the top ranks of the state police, including the director general of police and the commissioner of Kolkata Police.

According to sources, Ajay Nanda may replace acting DGP Piyush Pandey, who is currently heading the state police. Nanda has been assigned special responsibility in Malda district to oversee election-related security arrangements. The name of the new Kolkata police commissioner is yet to be finalised, sources said.

The election schedule for West Bengal was announced earlier in the day by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Officials said that once elections are announced, the commission exercises supervisory control over the state administration to ensure a free and fair poll. However, observers noted that the removal of the chief secretary soon after the poll schedule announcement is an unprecedented step in the state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey