Syed Waquar Raza becomes Siliguri CP, C. Sudhakar gets new role amid President protocol row

A fresh constitutional standoff has erupted between the Centre and the West Bengal government following a reported protocol breach during President Droupadi Murmu’s recent visit to North Bengal. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued orders summoning Darjeeling DM Manish Mishra and Siliguri Police Commissioner C. Sudhakar to central deputation in Delhi, citing security lapses and last-minute venue changes that reportedly caused displeasure to the President. However, the state secretariat, Nabanna, has flatly refused the directive, escalating the ongoing "power war" between the two administrations.

Instead of releasing the officers for central service, Bengal government has adopted a defensive administrative strategy by reshuffling them within the state. Manish Mishra has been appointed as Special Secretary in the Home Department, while C. Sudhakar has been moved to the Intelligence Branch (IB) North Bengal Range. In their place, the state has already installed new leadership, including Syed Waquar Raza as the new Siliguri Police Commissioner, effectively shielding the officers from immediate central jurisdiction.

The central government views the incident as a serious compromise of a constitutional head’s dignity and has labeled the refusal to release the officers as a violation of service rules. On the other hand, the Trinamool Congress has termed the MHA’s move an attack on the federal structure and an attempt to intimidate bureaucrats just before the elections. The state maintains that all arrangements were coordinated with central agencies and that the allegations of protocol violations are entirely baseless and politically motivated.