Kolkata, 19 March (H.S.): The West Bengal government has reassigned nine of the 11 district magistrates (DMs) who were recently removed from their posts by the Election Commission, giving them new administrative responsibilities with immediate effect.

According to an order issued by Nabanna, the state secretariat, the officers have been asked to assume charge of their new assignments without delay. Two former District Election Officers (DEOs) of Kolkata have also been given fresh postings.

Arvind Kumar Meena, former DM of South 24 Parganas, has been appointed Secretary in the Minority Affairs Department. Ayesha Rani, former DM of Purba Bardhaman, has been made Secretary in the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department.

Surendra Kumar Meena, former DM of Murshidabad, has been appointed Special Secretary in the Agriculture Department, while former Nadia DM Nikhil Nirmal has been made Special Secretary in the School Education Department.

Priti Goyal, former DM of Malda, has been appointed Special Secretary in the Health Department. Syed N, former DM of North 24 Parganas, has been made Special Secretary in the Panchayat and Rural Development Department.

Abhijit Tukaram, former DM of Alipurduar, has been posted as Special Secretary in the Animal Resources Development Department. Raju Mishra, former DM of Cooch Behar, has been appointed Special Secretary in the Transport Department, while Ravi Prakash Meena, former DM of Jalpaiguri, has been made Special Secretary in the Mass Education Department.

As Kolkata does not have a DM post, IAS-rank officers are appointed as District Election Officers. Sumit Gupta, who earlier served as DEO of South Kolkata, has now been appointed Secretary in the Disaster Management Department.

Anshul Gupta, Commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, had recently been given the additional charge of DEO for North Kolkata. After being removed from that role by the Election Commission on Wednesday, he has now been appointed Special Secretary in the Urban Development Department.

The Election Commission has been making extensive administrative and police-level changes in West Bengal since the announcement of the Assembly elections. Soon after the poll schedule was declared, the state’s Chief Secretary and Home Secretary were removed. Subsequently, the Kolkata Police Commissioner, the Director General of Police and the Additional Director General (Law and Order) were also replaced.

Several district magistrates and police officials have also been shifted from their posts. In most cases, the state government has reassigned the removed officers to other positions.

The ruling Trinamool Congress has criticised the Commission’s actions. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the Chief Election Commissioner expressing dissatisfaction, alleging that officers were being transferred without consulting the state government.

She also said that earlier, when removal of an officer was required during elections, the Commission used to seek a panel of three names from the state government and select one from it, but that practice was not followed this time.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh