KOLKATA: The Government of West Bengal has forwarded a panel of three senior IAS officers to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the appointment of the next Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state.
The move follows the appointment of Manoj Kumar Agarwal as the new Chief Secretary of West Bengal. Agarwal, who took charge as CEO in March 2025, is credited with effectively overseeing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
The three officers shortlisted for consideration are Neelam Meena, Tanmay Chakrabarty and Moumita Godara Basu.
Subrata Gupta Appointed Chief Advisor to Chief Minister
Meanwhile, Subrata Gupta, who had been appointed by the Election Commission as Special Poll Observer, has been named Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Both Manoj Kumar Agarwal and Subrata Gupta were widely credited with managing the Special Intensive Revision exercise, a politically significant and administratively demanding process.
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Profile: Neelam Meena
Neelam Meena, a 1998-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, hails from Rajasthan. Born on February 5, 1970, she holds a B.Sc. in Botany and an M.A. in History.
Over a distinguished career, she has served as:
- District Magistrate of Hooghly
- CEO of Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority
- Senior officer in Youth Services and Environment Departments
She also completed a five-year central deputation, during which she worked with the Tea Board and the Ministry of Rural Development. She is currently serving as Principal Secretary, Consumer Affairs Department.
Profile: Tanmay Chakrabarty
Tanmay Chakrabarty, a 2006-batch home-cadre IAS officer, was born on September 24, 1980, in West Bengal and holds a B.Sc. Tech degree.
He is known for a unique distinction: he was the only candidate in his UPSC batch to clear the Civil Services Mains examination using Bengali as his medium of writing.
His key assignments include:
- Sub-Divisional Officer, North 24 Parganas
- Additional District Magistrate, Jalpaiguri
- District Magistrate of Purulia and Malda
- Managing Director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation
He is currently serving as Director of the ESI Scheme under the Labour Department.
Profile: Moumita Godara Basu
Moumita Godara Basu, a 2007-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, was born on October 16, 1977. She holds an M.A. and M.Phil. in Geography.
Her extensive field experience includes serving as District Magistrate of:
- Bankura
- Jalpaiguri
- Jhargram
She has also held important positions in the Commerce & Industries and Mines & Minerals Departments and is currently Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department.
ECI to Make Final Selection
The Election Commission of India will now review the panel and appoint one of the three officers as West Bengal’s next Chief Electoral Officer.
The CEO plays a crucial role in conducting elections, maintaining electoral rolls, and coordinating with the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls in the state.
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