ECI removes 73 Returning Officers in Bengal, including Bhabanipur, ahead of elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) executed a major administrative reshuffle in West Bengal late Monday night, ordering the immediate transfer of 73 Returning Officers (ROs) across the state. This significant move follows the recent replacement of the state’s Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and several District Magistrates. Most of the affected officers are Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) or Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs), who hold the primary responsibility for managing candidate nominations and overseeing the polling process in their respective assembly segments.

In a move that has caught significant political attention, the Returning Officer for the high-profile Bhabanipur constituency—represented by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee—has also been changed. The reshuffle spans across various districts, including sensitive and key areas such as Tufanganj, Jalpaiguri, Malda Sadar, and Murshidabad’s Lalbagh. Urban and industrial belts like Barrackpore, Bidhannagar, Howrah Sadar, Asansol, and Durgapur have also seen new appointments to ensure a neutral and transparent electoral environment.

The directive comes as part of the Commission’s "zero-tolerance" policy toward potential administrative bias during the high-stakes 2026 Assembly elections. By replacing local officers with new personnel just weeks before the state goes to the polls on April 23 and 29, the ECI aims to eliminate any loopholes in election management. This follows a pattern of strict oversight in Bengal, where the Commission has already deployed 84 police observers from other states to monitor security.