Though the new Trinamool Congress government is yet to take oath, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has indicated that there will be no change in her style of functioning.
About 48 hours before taking oath, Ms. Banerjee on Wednesday reinstated six Superintendents of Police who were transferred under the directions of the Election Commission. The State government also shuffled 16 IPS officers and 14 IAS officers, including P.B. Salim who was shifted out as the South 24 Parganas District Magistrate following instructions from the poll panel.
The SPs, who are back to their earlier districts, are Kunal Agarwal in Bardhaman, Prasun Banerjee in Malda, Arnab Ghosh in South Dinajpur, Mukesh in Birbhum, Bharati Ghosh in Paschim Medinipur and Tanmay Ray Chaudhuri in North 24 Parganas.
At least four IPS officers have been sent on compulsory waiting for presumably working against the “interest of the ruling party in the elections,” the Opposition alleged.
Among the IAS officers shifted are district magistrate Antara Ancharya, who has been transferred to North 24 Parganas from East Midnapore, and Additional Chief Electoral officer Dibyendu Sarkar, who has now been made the Commissioner, Panchayat and rural development department.
Prior to this, Soumen Mitra, who was appointed Kolkata Police commissioner by Election Commission, was removed and Rajiv Kumar was reinstated in the post after the election results.
CPI(M) leader and MLA Sujan Chakraborty said the reshuffle was reflection of the Chief Minister’s “autocratic attitude.”
