In a swift and unprecedented move following the announcement of the West Bengal Assembly Elections, the Election Commission (EC) has removed the state’s top two bureaucrats. Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravarty and Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena have been relieved of their duties, with orders barring them from any poll-related work until the process is complete.

The EC has appointed Dushyant Nariala (1993 batch IAS) as the new Chief Secretary and Sanghamitra Ghosh (1997 batch IAS) as the new Home Secretary. Both officials have been directed to assume their new roles by 3 PM today. This major administrative overhaul comes right after the Model Code of Conduct came into effect on Sunday evening.

The state is set for a high-stakes battle in just two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. While the EC frequently transfers police officials, such a top-tier reshuffle in the state secretariat (Nabanna) is rarely seen, signaling the commission’s intent for a strictly monitored election.