New Delhi, March 16 Election Commission officials said on Monday that the major changes in the West Bengal civil and police administration were in line with the assurance given by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to hold free and fair elections in the state.
The EC has removed the state chief secretary, police chief, Kolkata police commissioner, and others, and has appointed new officials in their place, drawing sharp criticism from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal.
The EC has also told the state government that the transferred officers should not be given any election-related assignments.
The assembly elections will be held in the state on April 23 and 29, and the votes will be counted on May 4.
"In his press conference on Sunday, CEC Kumar assured that the elections in West Bengal would be inducement-free, violence-free, and peaceful. In line with this objective, the EC is appointing and transferring senior police officials, including the DGP and Kolkata CP," a functionary said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC called the reshuffle of senior administrative and police officials a "panic reaction by a party that realises it cannot win elections through democratic means", while the opposition BJP and CPI(M) hailed it as a "step towards free and fair polls".
After the announcement of the poll schedule for West Bengal, the EC removed Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty, Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena, DGP Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar.
It said that the removed officials would not be given poll-related assignments. The poll panel said the decision was taken following a review of the poll preparedness of the state.