Mamata Banerjee Objects to Transfer of Senior Officials Amid West Bengal Assembly Elections

Kolkata: A controversy has erupted over the transfer of several senior IAS and IPS officers of the state after the announcement of West Bengal Assembly elections. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on this issue, strongly objecting to the decision of the Election Commission. The Chief Minister addressed the letter to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and said that I am constrained to write in regard to the recent orders issued by the Election Commission of India dated 15th March 2026 and 16th March 2026 directing the transfer and unilateral appointment of several senior officers of the state administration. These directions include orders to change the Chief Secretary, Secretary (Home and Hill Affairs), Director General of Police and Inspector General of Police, and other senior officers of the state machinery. Such sweeping transfers have been made without any cogent reason and without any allegation of violation, malpractice or omission with regard to the conduct of elections.