HOURS BEFORE SIR, BENGAL SEES MAJOR ADMINISTRATIVE RESHUFFLE

Hours before the Election Commission of India's press conference on SIR in New Delhi, the West Bengal Government carried out a major reshuffle in the State administration.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

In one of the largest changes in recent memory, it transferred 64 IAS officers, including 10 District Magistrates, and 457 State civil service officers. Opposition parties - the BJP, CPIM and the Congress - immediately raised questions about the timing.

"Before the ECI could move the District Magistrates who have held the post for more than three years, the State administration transferred them. This is a way that political parties ensure that they get to post their favoured officers to the places of their choice. This is done to ensure that the administration remains in the control of people who are close to the ruling party,' a retired Chief Secretary told The Daily Guardian.

Among the WBCS officers, a number of Block Development Officers (BDOs), Sub Divisional Officers (SDOs), and Additional District Magistrates (ADMs) were also transferred.