EC reshuffles 83 BDOs and AROs across Bengal, including Nandigram and Diamond Harbor

Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Election Commission has ordered a major administrative reshuffle by transferring 83 Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) across the state. The directive was issued from the Commission’s office in New Delhi as part of preparations to ensure neutrality and smooth conduct of the upcoming polls.

According to reports, the transfer order covers officials across 18 districts, stretching from North Bengal to South Bengal. The reshuffle includes key administrative blocks in districts such as Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Birbhum, Purulia and East and West Medinipur. Some of the blocks affected by the transfers include Nandigram-1 and 2, Diamond Harbour-1 and 2, Ramnagar, Nanur, Labhpur, Suri-1, Mohammad Bazar, Illambazar and Mayureswar-1. Officials from sensitive areas were particularly included in the reshuffle as part of the Commission’s efforts to maintain administrative neutrality during the election process.

Reports indicate that the proposal for the reshuffle was initially sent by the state’s Chief Electoral Officer on March 28 and later approved by the Election Commission. The move comes amid intensified election preparations, with the Commission emphasizing that such transfers are aimed at ensuring a fair and peaceful polling process across the state.