Kolkata, March 29: The Election Commission of India announced on Sunday the transfer of 83 Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) in West Bengal. This decision comes in light of the upcoming crucial assembly elections next month.
The Chief Secretary of West Bengal, Dushyant Nariyala, received a letter from the Election Commission through the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, detailing the list of transfers for the 83 BDOs and AROs.
Significant changes occurred in two blocks of the Nandigram assembly constituency in East Midnapore district, which is represented by Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and a BJP MLA.
This time, Suvendu Adhikari is contesting elections from both Nandigram and the Bhawanipur assembly constituency in Kolkata, where he faces off against the Trinamool Congress candidate and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
According to the Commission’s list, the highest number of transfers took place in East Midnapore district, Adhikari’s home district, with 14 officials being reassigned. Following this, 11 officials were transferred from South 24 Parganas, and 7 each from North 24 Parganas and East Bardhaman. Additionally, 6 officials were transferred from Malda and Birbhum, while 4 were reassigned from Jalpaiguri, 3 from Cooch Behar, and 5 from Nadia. There were also transfers in Murshidabad, Hooghly, West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia, and several other districts.
Since the announcement of elections in West Bengal, the Commission has been actively transferring administrative and police officials. In the first phase, senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Directors General of Police, were reassigned. The second phase involved transfers of District Magistrates, DIGs, SPs, and Deputy Commissioners.
Now, in the third and final phase, lower-level officials, such as Additional District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers, and BDOs, are being transferred. The police department is also seeing transfers of Additional SPs, Deputy SPs, Assistant SPs, Assistant Commissioners, and Inspectors.
The assembly elections in West Bengal are scheduled for April 23 and April 29, with voting taking place for 152 seats in the first phase and 142 seats in the second phase. The election results will be announced on May 4.
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