Chief Secretary Calls for Professional Administration and Rule-Based Governance

MP, May 13, 2026, Kolkata: Newly appointed Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal on Tuesday directed secretaries of all state government departments to dismantle the culture of “political servitude” and ensure professional functioning in administration.

At his first meeting with departmental secretaries, the 1990-batch IAS officer made it clear that the bureaucracy under the new regime would function strictly according to rules and administrative norms.

According to Nabanna sources, Agarwal delivered a strong message to senior bureaucrats not to succumb to political interference and to work honestly.

“You do not need to bend your spine. You are IAS officers — just continue performing your responsibilities,” he told officials during the meeting.

Agarwal also directed departments to immediately implement Central government schemes that had allegedly remained stalled in the state for years.

He instructed every department to prepare execution plans based on promises made in the BJP’s election “Sankalp Patra”.

A day earlier, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had issued a stern administrative message from Nabanna to district magistrates and superintendents of police, directing them to ensure the immediate stoppage of cattle smuggling, both along the border and on state highways.

Adhikari also instructed the administration to adopt a “zero tolerance” policy towards illegal coal and sand trafficking.

Notably, during the recently concluded Assembly elections, Manoj Agarwal served as the state’s Chief Electoral Officer.

Even then, speculation within administrative circles suggested that experienced bureaucrats like Agarwal and retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta could return to key positions if there was a change in government.

On Saturday, Subrata Gupta was appointed adviser to the Chief Minister, while Manoj Agarwal formally took charge as Chief Secretary on Monday.

Many in administrative and political circles credited the duo with helping ensure what was widely described as one of the fairest Assembly elections witnessed in Bengal in recent years.