EC reshuffles IAS, IPS officers in Bengal; appoints DMs-cum-DEOs, DIGs ahead of polls

Kolkata: The Election Commission on Wednesday ordered a fresh round of reshuffle of senior officers in poll-bound West Bengal, appointing 13 IAS officers as DMs-cum-DEOs and posting five IPS officers as deputy inspectors general (DIGs).

The IAS officers were appointed as district magistrates (DMs) who will also serve as district election officers (DEOs), placing them at the centre of poll management and supervision at the district level.

According to an official communication, officers including Jitin Yadav (Cooch Behar), Sandeep Ghosh (Jalpaiguri), Vivek Kumar (Uttar Dinajpur), Rajanvir Singh Kapur (Malda) and R Arjun (Murshidabad) have been posted as DMs-cum-DEOs.

Similarly, Srikant Palli has been appointed DM-cum-DEO of Nadia, Sweta Agarwal in Purba Bardhaman, Shilpa Gorisaria in North 24 Parganas, Abhishek Kumar Tiwary in South 24 Parganas, Harishankar Panicker in Darjeeling and T Balasubramanian in Alipurduar. Smita Pandey has been posted as Municipal Commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and DEO of Kolkata North, while Randhir Kumar will serve as DEO of Kolkata South.

“These officers will play a crucial role in ensuring free, fair and transparent elections. Many of them will also function in observer capacities to closely monitor poll preparedness and conduct at the district level,” a senior Election Commission official said.
The commission said the directions are to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report on the joining of the officers must be submitted by 3 pm on March 19.
It also directed that officers transferred out should not be posted in any election-related assignments till the completion of the electoral process.

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