Massive Bureaucratic Shuffle Ahead of West Bengal's Electoral Roll Revision

Ahead of the expected announcement for an intensive revision of electoral rolls, the West Bengal government has announced a significant reshuffle, transferring over 200 senior officials. The move, labeled as routine by the ruling TMC, has faced criticism from the opposition as a political strategy to hobble the electoral process.

In a major administrative overhaul, the West Bengal government has transferred more than 200 bureaucrats and senior officials just hours before the Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for an intensive revision of electoral rolls. This widespread reshuffle includes 61 IAS and 145 WBCS officers, marking one of the largest such moves in recent times.

The reshuffle involves key positions such as 10 district magistrates, and senior officers from both IAS and WBCS cadres, including special secretary ranked officials and those designated as officers-on-special duty. Notable names among the transferred are the MD of Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation, the municipal commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, and the CEO of Haldia Development Authority.

The personnel involved are anticipated to play critical roles in the upcoming electoral roll revision exercise. While the state government justifies these transfers as routine, political opposition claims it is a strategic maneuver by the ruling party to disrupt an impartial revision process, a claim steadfastly denied by the ruling TMC.

(With inputs from agencies.)