West Bengal Polls: EC Reshuffles Senior Officials, Appoints New CS

In a directive issued late last night, the poll body said Dushyant Nariala, an IAS of 1993 batch, will be posted as Chief Secretary in the poll-bound West Bengal. Nariala replaces Nandini Chakravorty who was appointed to the post on December 31, 2025.

The action came hours after the EC announced the schedule of assembly elections for four states, including West Bengal, and one UT. West Bengal goes to polling in two-phases on April 23 and 29, while the counting of votes will be done on May 4.

Jagdish Prasad Meena, a 2004-batch IAS officer, has also been removed as the Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs in the state government. He will be replaced with Sanghamitra Ghosh, a 1997-batch officer.

The poll body said that the directions will be implemented with immediate effect. 

"I am directed to state that the Commission has reviewed the poll preparedness for the General Election to Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, 2026 and directs the following: Dushyant Nariala, (IAS-1993) be posted as Chief Secretary, Govt. of West Bengal. Sanghamitra Ghosh, (IAS-1997) be posted as Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal," the letter signed by Sujeet Kumar Mishra, Secretary, ECI, read.

"The directions of the Commission to be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect of joining of above officers be sent by 03:00 PM on March 16, 2026. Further, the officers transferred out shall not be posted in any election related posts till the completion of elections," the letter said.