EC orders major administrative reshuffle in West Bengal appointing Dushyant Nariala as new Chief Secretary

In a significant move to ensure impartial poll preparations, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the transfer of West Bengal's Chief Secretary and Home Secretary just weeks before the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections, set to unfold in two phases.The ECI's letter, dated March 15 and addressed to the West Bengal Chief Secretary's office, follows a comprehensive review of election readiness. It mandates immediate personnel changes to uphold electoral integrity. Key appointments include: Dushyant Nariala (IAS 1993 batch) as the new Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal, succeeding Nandini Chakraborty. Sanghamitra Ghosh (IAS 1997 batch) as Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department. These transfers aim to prevent any potential influence from long-serving officials during the high-stakes polls, a standard ECI practice in election-bound states. West Bengal's political landscape remains charged, with parties gearing up for a fiercely contested battle.