THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Kolkata, March 16: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday transferred West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar, in the second administrative reshuffle since the Model Code of Conduct came into force following the announcement of the Bengal Assembly election schedule on Sunday.
Pandey has been replaced by Siddh Nath Gupta, a 1992-batch IPS officer, while Ajay Nand, a 1996-batch IPS officer, has been appointed the new Kolkata Police Commissioner.
New Appointments Announced
Siddh Nath Gupta was earlier serving as Director General (Correctional Homes). Following his appointment as DGP, N. Ramesh Babu has been named as the new DG (Correctional Homes).
The Election Commission has also appointed Ajay Ranade as Additional Director General (Law and Order).
Earlier Removal of Chief Secretary, Home Secretary
The latest transfers come a day after the Election Commission removed West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty and Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena on Sunday night.
The Commission appointed Dushyant Nariala as the new Chief Secretary and Sanghamitra Ghosh as the Home Secretary.
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The poll panel directed that the orders be implemented immediately, with a compliance report to be submitted to the Election Commission by 3 pm on Monday.
The directive also stated that the officers transferred out will not be posted in any election-related roles until the completion of the Assembly elections.
Trinamool Congress Protests in Parliament
The transfers triggered protests from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), whose members staged a walkout in Parliament.
Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien criticised the move, saying the Election Commission was misusing its authority.
“In the dead of night, the chief secretary and home secretary of Bengal were removed by the Election Commission. The EC has all the power to do it. They can misuse that power,” O’Brien said.
“In protest against what the Chief Election Commissioner is doing, we in the All India Trinamool Congress are walking out for the day,” he added.