A day after announcing the schedule for the 2026 Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India ordered key police transfers in West Bengal after reviewing poll preparedness.
Under the order, several
senior officers have been given new postings.
Siddh Nath Gupta (IPS 1992) has been appointed DG & IGP (In-charge), West Bengal.
Natarajan Ramesh Babu (IPS 1991) has been appointed DG, Correctional Services.
Ajay Mukund Ranade (IPS 1995) has been appointed ADG & IGP (Law & Order). He will replace Vinit Goyel who has been removed from the post. Goyal was the Kolkata Police Commissioner during the RG Kar doctor rape and murder case. CM Mamata Banerjee had to remove him under pressure after protests.
Ajay Kumar Nand (IPS 1996) has been appointed Commissioner, Kolkata Police.
The orders must be implemented immediately, and a compliance report on the officers joining their new posts must be sent by 3:00 PM on March 16. Officers who have been transferred out will not be given any election-related posts until the polls are completed.
In its order, the Election Commission said it had reviewed preparations for the upcoming state polls before directing the changes. The Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said elections in West Bengal would be peaceful and violence-free. In pursuance of this objective, the Election Commission of India has transferred senior police officials in the state, including the DGP of West Bengal and the Commissioner of Kolkata Police.
“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:- i. Shri Siddh Nath Gupta, (IPS -1992) be posted as DG & IGP, Govt. of West Bengal (In-charge) ii. Shri Natarajan Ramesh Babu, (IPS -1991) be posted as DG, Correctional Services, Govt. of West Bengal iii. Shri Ajay Mukund Ranade, (IPS -1995) be posted as ADG & IGP (Law & Order), Govt. of West Bengal iv. Shri Ajay Kumar Nand, (IPS -1996) be posted as Commissioner, Kolkata Police. The directions of the Commission to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect of joining of above officers be sent by 03:00 PM on 16.03.2026. Further, the officers transferred out shall not be posted in any election related posts till the completion of elections.”
2026 Assembly election in Bengal will take place in two phases – on April 23 and April 29 – while counting of votes will be held on May 4.
Other administrative changes
The Election Commission also ordered the transfer of senior state officials soon after announcing the poll schedule.
Dushyant Nariala, a 1993-batch IAS officer, will be posted as Chief Secretary of West Bengal, replacing Nandini Chakravorty, who had taken charge on December 31, 2025.
The poll body also removed Jagdish Prasad Meena, a 2004-batch IAS officer, as Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs. He will be replaced by Sanghamitra Ghosh, a 1997-batch IAS officer.
The Election Commission said these directions must also be implemented immediately, with a compliance report on the officers’ joining to be submitted by 3 PM on Monday, March 16.
