West Bengal Assembly Election Dates: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the transfer of senior officers in the state government hours after the schedule for the West Bengal assembly elections, to be held in two phases, was announced. The directives have to be implemented by 3 PM today, as per the poll panel’s order.
In a letter dated 15 March, addressed to the Chief Secretary of the West Bengal government in Kolkata, the Election Commission said it has reviewed the poll preparedness for the general election to the legislative assembly of West Bengal and directed the transfers of two officials.
The EC has directed that Dushyant Nariyala, an IAS officer of the 1993 batch, be posted as Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal. Sanghamitra Ghosh, IAS officer of the 1997 batch, has been posted as Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs, Government of West Bengal as per the order.
“I am directed to state that the Commission has reviewed the poll preparedness for the General Election to Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, 2026 and directs the following: Dushyant Nariala, (IAS-1993) be posted as Chief Secretary, Govt. of West Bengal. Sanghamitra Ghosh, (IAS-1997) be posted as Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal,” the letter signed by Sujeet Kumar Mishra, Secretary, ECI, read.
The new appointments come hours after the poll panel on Sunday announced the schedule for upcoming assembly elections in four states, including West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, as well as the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Election Model Code of Conduct comes into place soon after the election dates are announced. The poll panel is empowered to order the transfer of officials during MCC.
“The directions of the Commission to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect of the joining of above officers be sent by 03:00 PM on March 16, 2026. Further, the officers transferred out shall not be posted in any election-related posts till the completion of elections,” the letter said.
The EC has removed the current Chief Secretary, Nandini Chakraborty, from her post and appointed Dushyant Nariyala in her place.
The elections in West Bengal will be conducted in two phases on April 23 and 29. Kerala and Assam will vote in a single phase on April 9, while Tamil Nadu will vote on April 23. Voting in Puducherry will also take place on April 9. The counting of votes for all four states and Puducherry will be held on May 4, the ECI announced.
TMC, BJP react
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Arup Chakraborty reacted to the transfers and said the poll panel was only “ following orders to satisfy its boss (BJP). “You can transfer offers, but you cannot transfer Mamata Banerjee from the hearts of people of West Bengal,” he said.
The opposition BJP also reacted to the development. “About 250 of our workers and members were killed before, during and after the 2021 assembly elections. We urged the Election Commission to ensure that no officer having links to the ruling party should be part of election machinery,” Debjit Sarkar, spokesperson of West Bengal BJP, told. Hindustan Times.
