18 March,2026 12:27 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondent
BJP leader Rahul Sinha. PIC/ X
BJP leader Rahul Sinha on Wednesday backed the Election Commission of India's major bureaucratic reshuffle in West Bengal, calling it a step towards ensuring 'clean and fair' elections.
According to ANI, Sinha alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had created a "syndicate" within the state police by appointing loyalists, but claimed the EC's move had "broken" this network.
He further alleged attempts to incite communal tensions, stating that both Hindu and Muslim communities exercised restraint.
In a significant overhaul, the EC appointed Siddh Nath Gupta as Director General of Police, replacing Peeyush Pandey.
Ajay Kumar Nand has been named Commissioner of Kolkata Police, while Natarajan Ramesh Babu will serve as DG, Correctional Services, and Ajay Mukund Ranade as ADG & IGP (Law & Order).
The Commission also announced key district-level postings to ensure smooth conduct of elections. Surya Pratap Yadav has been appointed SP, Barasat PD; Rakesh Singh as SP, Cooch Behar; Kumar Sunny Raj as SP, Birbhum; Ishani Paul as SP, Islampur PD; Pushpa as SP, Hooghly Rural; and Jaspreet Singh as SP, Diamond Harbour PD, as per ANI.
Additionally, Yeilwad Shrikant Jagannathrao will serve as DC, Central Division, Kolkata, while Papiya Sultana has been posted as SP, Paschim Medinipur, among others.
The West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. The election process is set to conclude by May 6.
A day after the announcement of the poll schedule for West Bengal, the Election Commission on Monday removed Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty, Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena, DGP Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar stating that they 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.
The Trinamool Congress called the EC's reshuffle a "panic reaction by a party that realises it cannot win elections through democratic means", while the opposition BJP and CPI(M) hailed the rejig as a "step towards free and fair polls".
