Kolkata, March 16 – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Monday, expressing her concern over the removal of several IAS and IPS officers in the state following the announcement of the Assembly elections.
In the letter, CM Banerjee alleged that the sweeping transfers were carried out without any valid reasons and without any allegation of violation, misconduct, or lapse in connection with the conduct of elections.
"It is deeply concerning and surprising that the heads of the administrative machinery in the state of West Bengal have been removed within hours of the press release announcing the General Election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in 2026. This has been done arbitrarily, without seeking a panel of officers from the state government, and without adhering to the established convention that has guided the functioning of ECI and the state government during previous elections," the Chief Minister wrote.
This development comes after the Election Commission carried out a major reshuffle in the state administration.
In an overnight move, Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Home Secretary J.P. Meena were transferred. Several senior police officials, including the Director General of Police and the Kolkata Police Commissioner, were also removed from their posts.
The reshuffle took place hours after the Election Commission issued the notification for the upcoming Assembly polls in the state.
Objecting to the move, CM Banerjee said such actions undermine the spirit of cooperative federalism and the principles of democratic governance.
"It also undermines the spirit of cooperative federalism and the principles of our democratic polity, which form a basic feature of our constitutional governance. The Election Commission of India, as a constitutional authority of the highest standing, is expected not only to exercise its powers but also to uphold the spirit and values inherent in India’s federal structure," she wrote.
CM Banerjee also urged the Election Commission to refrain from adopting such unilateral measures in the future, saying they risk diluting the credibility and institutional integrity of the poll panel.