Kolkata: In a major election-time administrative exercise, Election Commission of India on Tuesday ordered the transfer of 19 senior police officers across West Bengal, making it the third consecutive day of reshuffles in the poll-bound state.
The latest round of changes includes top-level appointments in regional police leadership, commissionerates and district policing units, covering ADG-rank officers, police commissioners, superintendents of police and a deputy commissioner in Kolkata.
The move comes as the Election Commission intensifies efforts to ensure administrative neutrality ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Third Consecutive Day of Election-Linked Transfers
This is the third major transfer order issued by the poll body since the election schedule was announced.
Earlier rounds included
• transfer of Chief Secretary
• transfer of DGP
• transfer of Home Department officers
• change in Kolkata Police leadership
The Election Commission has used its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to directly intervene in election administration.
Why the Election Commission Can Order Transfers
Under Article 324, the Election Commission has constitutional authority over:
• superintendence
• direction
• control of election machinery
This allows it to transfer officers directly connected to election administration when neutrality concerns arise.
Top Regional Police Leadership Changed
Two major regional police commands in West Bengal have been reassigned.
New postings
• Rajesh Kumar Singh appointed ADG & IGP, South Bengal Region
• K Jayaraman appointed ADG & IGP, North Bengal Region
These two postings are considered highly significant because regional ADGs supervise multiple districts during elections.
Police Commissioners Changed in Four Key Commissionerates
The Election Commission also replaced police chiefs in four major urban policing zones.
New Commissioners
• Pranav Kumar appointed Commissioner of Police, Asansol-Durgapur
• Akhilesh Kumar Chaturvedi appointed Commissioner of Police, Howrah
• Amit Kumar Singh appointed Commissioner of Police, Barrackpore
• Sunil Kumar Yadav appointed Commissioner of Police, Chandannagar
These commissionerates are politically sensitive due to dense urban voter concentration.
12 District SPs and One DC Also Shifted
The reshuffle extends deep into district policing.
New SP-level postings
• Pushpa — SP, Barasat Police District
• Jaspreet Singh — SP, Cooch Behar
• Surya Pratap Yadav — SP, Birbhum
• Rakesh Singh — SP, Islampur Police District
• Kumar Sunny Raj — SP, Hooghly Rural
• Ishani Paul — SP, Diamond Harbour Police District
• Sachin — SP, Murshidabad Police District
• Alaknanda Bhowal — SP, Basirhat Police District
• Anupam Singh — SP, Malda
• Angshuman Saha — SP, Purba Medinipur
• Surinder Singh — SP, Jangipur
• Papiya Sultana — SP, Paschim Medinipur
Kolkata posting
• Yeilwad Shrikant Jagannathrao — DC, Central Division, Kolkata
Transferred Officers Barred From Election Duties
The Election Commission has directed that officers shifted out under this order must not be assigned any election-related role until completion of the electoral process.
This is a standard election safeguard to avoid administrative influence.
Political Reaction Turns Sharp
The reshuffle has triggered strong political reactions.
Derek O’Brien criticised the transfers and announced a day-long protest in Parliament.
He described the overnight transfers as excessive intervention.
Centre Defends Election Commission
Kiren Rijiju defended the move, saying the Election Commission is acting within constitutional powers.
He also accused ruling party critics of repeatedly targeting constitutional institutions.
West Bengal Election Schedule
Voting for all 294 Assembly seats will be conducted in two phases.
Polling dates
• April 23 — 152 seats
• April 29 — 142 seats
Counting
• May 4
Why This Reshuffle Matters
This scale of police reshuffling indicates the Election Commission’s intent to exercise close control over field-level law and order before polling begins.
Because district SPs and commissioners directly influence deployment, route management, sensitive booth monitoring and security response, these postings can significantly affect election management.
Read also: EC Appoints Retired IAS Officer Manjeet Singh as Special Observer for Assam Assembly Elections
