Tue Oct 28 06:08:05 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the article and a rewrite as a news article:

Summary:

Ahead of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal and other states, the West Bengal government conducted a large-scale bureaucratic reshuffle, transferring 64 IAS officers and numerous WB Civil Service officers, including appointing new District Magistrates (DMs) in 17 districts, many bordering neighboring countries or states. The opposition BJP has protested the move, alleging it violates Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines by occurring after the SIR announcement and without ECI approval. The ECI acknowledged the state’s right to reshuffle before the SIR but requires permission for changes afterward. The BJP vows to monitor the new appointees, while the state government claims the transfers are routine.

News Article:

West Bengal Government Reshuffles Bureaucracy Ahead of Electoral Roll Revision, Sparking Opposition Protest

KOLKATA, October 28, 2025 – A major bureaucratic reshuffle in West Bengal, involving the transfer of dozens of senior officers and the appointment of new District Magistrates (DMs) in 17 districts, has triggered a political firestorm. The move comes just ahead of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal and other states, announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Notices issued by the West Bengal government on October 24th detail the transfer of approximately 64 IAS officers and hundreds of West Bengal Civil Service officers. Key changes include the appointment of new DMs in districts like North and South 24 Parganas, Cooch Behar, Murshidabad, and several others. Many of these districts share borders with Bangladesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar, raising eyebrows about the timing and scope of the reshuffle.

While some officials have been reassigned as DMs of different districts, others have been moved to different departments altogether. For example, the DM of North 24 Parganas is now the Secretary in Health and Family Welfare Department, while the DM of South 24 Parganas has been appointed the Municipal Commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly condemned the reshuffle, accusing the state government of violating ECI guidelines. In a letter to the ECI, the BJP alleged the transfers, numbering over 235 officers, were conducted after the announcement of the SIR on June 24th, 2025, without seeking the necessary approval from the Election Commission.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party strongly protests this irregular step in complete violation of the ECI guidelines of ordering these transfers without the approval of the ECI,” the letter stated.

Union Minister and BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar said the party would closely monitor the newly-appointed DMs and ADMs. “We will see what the purpose of these transfers are… If these new DMs and ADMs are seen defying rules and working on Trinamool’s instructions, we will democratically resist it with full force,” Mr. Majumdar warned.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar acknowledged the state government’s right to conduct administrative reshuffles before the announcement of the SIR. However, he emphasized that any changes to administrative positions after the announcement require prior permission from the ECI.

In response to the controversy, the West Bengal administration and leaders of the ruling party have maintained that the transfers are merely “routine.” However, the scale and timing of the reshuffle continue to fuel speculation and raise questions about its impact on the upcoming electoral roll revision process. The ECI is yet to comment on the specific allegations raised by the BJP.

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