Kolkata, March 19 – The newly appointed West Bengal Chief Secretary, Dushyant Nariala, and the state Home Secretary, Sanghamitra Ghosh, visited the Raj Bhavan on Thursday to meet the new Governor, R.N. Ravi.
According to a source at the State Secretariat, Nabanna, they spent nearly 30 minutes there.
This marks the first time since assuming office that Governor Ravi has met with any administrative official of the state government, besides meeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and others during the oath-taking ceremony on March 12.
Governor Ravi reportedly made detailed inquiries about the current situation in the state, particularly in the context of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Reports indicate that a meeting took place.
On March 15, the day the Model Code of Conduct came into effect in the state following the announcement of the Assembly elections, the Election Commission effected a reshuffle in the posts of Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, with Dushyant Nariala and Sanghamitra Ghosh being appointed respectively.
Governor Ravi has now held discussions with them.
According to the source, the Governor's office has not yet been fully set up.
Governor Ravi has requested the appointment of a state Secretary.
Reports suggest that once a Secretary is appointed, the Governor plans to begin his work in a more organized manner.
However, it was learnt that Governor Ravi has already begun making inquiries about the state's situation in the context of the ongoing Assembly elections.
It may be noted that once the Model Code of Conduct comes into force, the Election Commission is vested with special powers. It is empowered to issue directives regarding the transfer of state government bureaucrats, officials, and police chiefs.
Meanwhile, prior to the announcement of the state elections, C.V. Ananda Bose resigned from the office of the West Bengal Governor.
R.N. Ravi was appointed as the permanent Governor to succeed Ananda Bose.
Following these administrative reshuffles, Governor Ravi, on Thursday, held discussions with the new Chief Secretary Nariala and Home Secretary Ghosh for the first time.