EC removes Bengal DGP, Kolkata CP ahead of polls, TMC walks out of Rajya Sabha in protest

A day after the schedule for the Assembly elections in West Bengal was released, the Election Commission on Monday removed the state director general of police and the Kolkata police commissioner, PTI reported.

The poll panel appointed Indian Police Service officer Siddh Nath Gupta as the new director general of police, the news agency quoted an unidentified official as saying. Gupta will replace Peeyush Pandey in the post.

The official added that Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar has been removed and Ajay Kumar Nand has been appointed in his position.

Additionally, Natarajan Ramesh Babu has been named director general of correctional services, while Ajay Mukund Ranade has been appointed additional director general (law and order), the Hindustan Times reported.

In an earlier notice, the poll panel had removed Nandini Chakraborty from the post of chief secretary, appointing Dushyant Nariala in her place, The Indian Express reported. Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena was replaced by Sanghamitra Ghosh.

The official also told PTI that the Election Commission has directed that all the orders be implemented immediately and that the state government submit a compliance report by 3 pm on Monday.

Those transferred out of their positions should not be posted in any election-related assignment till the completion of the polls, the poll panel added.

The West Bengal election will be held in two phases on April...

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