The Election Commission has transferred in-charge officers and inspectors of 173 police stations across West Bengal, including 31 stations under Kolkata Police, as part of measures to ensure free and fair elections, officials said.
Officers deployed in key constituencies like Bhabanipur in Kolkata and Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district were included in the reshuffle that took place on Sunday.
The transfers also included inspectors and sub-inspectors appointed as executive coordinators and executive coordinators in districts, including Cooch Behar, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Paschim Medinipur, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas.
According to the order, Soumitra Basu, who was previously with the Special Task Force (STF), will take over as Superintendent of Bhabanipur Police Station.
In Bhabanipur, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to face off against her former protégé-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari, turning her long-held stronghold into one of the most closely watched Assembly seats in the state.
OCs of other major stations such as Alipore, Ekbalpore, Haridevpur, Entally, Jorasanko, Gariahat, Bhawanipore, New Market, Bowbazar, Tollygunge, Amherst Street, Taratala and Behala have also been transferred.
Debdulal Mondal has been appointed as IC for Haldia, Kajal Dutta for Kolaghat, Susanta Chattopadhyay from Alipurduar to Egra, and Chandrakanta Shasmal as OC for Patashpur, officials said.
Polling officials said such large-scale transfers aim to ensure impartiality in law enforcement and maintain a level playing field during elections by reducing local influence.
A senior poll commission official said the directions were issued by the commission from its office in New Delhi.
The move comes amid continuing friction between the state government and the Center over the transfer of officials ahead of the elections.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has on multiple occasions claimed that such cabinet reshuffles are politically motivated.
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are scheduled to be held in two phases – on April 23 and 29. The votes will be counted on May 4.
