ECI transfers 14 more Returning officers in Bengal

ECI Replaces Returning Officers Across Bengal Constituencies

IANS, March 28, 2026, Kolkata: The transfer spree by the Election Commission of India continues as the poll panel has replaced 14 Returning Officers (ROs) in several constituencies across West Bengal.

Interestingly enough, all these officers have been removed just five days after their appointment, obviously raising questions on the appointment pattern of the highest poll body.

Earlier this week, the Commission had appointed Returning Officers in 73 constituencies across 20 districts, including the Bhabanipur seat of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had questioned the neutrality of the Election Commission regarding the change of Returning Officer in Bhabanipur, where Surajit Roy, a Block Development Officer from Nandigram, has been appointed as RO.

The Trinamool Congress had alleged that Roy had links with Suvendu Adhikari and had lodged an official complaint with the Election Commission of India.

However, in the present reshuffle, carried out late Thursday night, 14 officers were removed across nine districts in the state.

These officials had been appointed only last Monday, making their removal within five days a significant and unusual administrative move.

The highest number of changes has been reported from East Midnapore district, where Returning Officers in five constituencies have been replaced.

In addition, the ECI has appointed new ROs in nine other constituencies where no such appointments had been made earlier.

These include high-profile seats such as Nandigram, represented by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

In an interesting development, Rajorshi Nath, Deputy Secretary of the Zilla Parishad in East Midnapore, has been appointed as the Returning Officer for Nandigram.

The constituencies where Returning Officers have been replaced include Jalpaiguri, Bharatpur, Baduria, Jadavpur, Jagatballavpur, Pursurah, Moyna, Nandakumar, Haldia, Kanthi Dakshin, Egra, Kharagpur, Daspur, and Sonamukhi.

Meanwhile, fresh appointments have been made in constituencies such as Phansidewa, Hariharpara, Karimpur, Khanakul, Nandigram, Keshiary, Binpur, Raipur, and Bardhaman Dakshin.

The party formally wrote to the Election Commission demanding his removal. Amid the controversy, the ECI sought a panel of three officers’ names from the Chief Secretary on Thursday.

Subsequently, it announced the reshuffle in 14 constituencies. Notably, Bhabanipur does not figure in the latest list of changes.