Kolkata/New Delhi: In a partial modification of its earlier deployment order, the Election Commission of India has kept in abeyance the transfer of five IPS officers from West Bengal who were earlier directed to report for election duty in southern states, while the remaining 10 officers will proceed as scheduled for poll-related assignments in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Five IPS Officers Get Temporary Relief
According to Commission sources, transfer orders have been put on hold for the following five officers:
• Akash Magharia
• Amandeep
• Praveen Kumar Tripathi
• Murlidhar Sharma
• Waquar Raza
For now, these officers will continue in their present postings in West Bengal.
10 Officers Will Continue with Election Duty Deployment
The remaining officers named in the earlier order are expected to join election duty outside the state.
These include:
• Alok Rajoria
• Abhijit Banerjee
• Bhaskar Mukhopadhyay
• C Sudhakar
• Dhritiman Sarkar
• Indira Mukhopadhyay
• Mukesh
• Priyabrata Roy
• Sandeep Karra
• Rashid Munir Khan
Key Officers Whose Transfers Were Stayed
Among the five officers granted temporary relief:
• Murlidhar Sharma is currently Commissioner of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate
• Waquar Raza heads Siliguri Police Commissionerate
• Akash Magharia is serving as DIG in the Intelligence Branch
• Amandeep is posted as Special Superintendent in Intelligence Branch
• Praveen Kumar Tripathi is IG in the State Task Force
Mamata Banerjee Writes to CEC Over Transfers
The decision has triggered political reaction from Mamata Banerjee.
She has reportedly written to Gyanesh Kumar, objecting to the transfers and calling them:
• Unilateral
• Unprecedented
She argued that such changes were made without prior consultation with the state government.
Earlier IAS and IPS Transfers Also Sparked Debate
The Commission had recently deputed four other IPS officers from West Bengal for election duty:
• Preeti Goel
• Siyad N
• Arvind Kumar Meena
• Rani Ayesha
Two IAS officers were also transferred:
• P Ulaganathan
• Shama Parveen
Additional Senior Bengal Officers Sent for Election Duty
Two more senior officers deputed outside Bengal include:
• Priyanka Singla
• P Mohangandhi
Why This Matters
The Election Commission’s repeated deployment of Bengal officers outside the state is being closely watched because:
• It affects administrative continuity
• It intersects with election neutrality concerns
• It has generated open disagreement between state leadership and the poll body
