Hours after announcing the schedule for the 2026 Assembly elections, the Election Commission (EC) removed West Bengal's Chief Secretary and Home Secretary late Sunday night to ensure a "level playing field." (File)The Election Commission on late Sunday night replaced the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary of West Bengal, hours after announcing the dates for the Assembly elections in the state.The EC has removed Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and replaced her with Dushyant Nariala. Similarly, state Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena has been replaced by Sanghamitra Ghosh.In a letter sent to the chief secretary, the EC said that “the officers transferred out” – Nandini Chakraborty and Jagdish Prasad Meena – “shall not be posted in any election-related position” till the polls are over.“The directions of the Election Commission should be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in respect of joining of Dushyant Nariala and Sanghamitra Ghosh be sent by 3 pm on March 16 (Monday).Nandini Chakraborty, the 1994-batch IAS officer was appointed as the first woman chief secretary of West Bengal on December 31 last year. Her presence with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with other top bureaucrats of the state, during the Enforcement Directorate’s search operation at I-PAC’s Kolkata office had sparked criticism from the Opposition BJP and former bureaucrats, calling it a breach of administrative protocol.Chakraborty, a voter in Kolkata, was called for hearings by the EC during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.Replacing her, Dushyant Nariala is a 1993-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre. He currently serves as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) for the North Bengal Development Department.Story continues below this adHe held Additional Charge as Principal Secretary of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) as well as Additional Chief Secretary of the Correctional Administration Department. He also served as the Principal Secretary for the Disaster Management and Civil Defence Department.Sanghamitra Ghosh, the new Home Secretary, is an IAS officer of the 1997 batch belonging to the West Bengal cadre. Ghosh served as the Principal Secretary for the Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare.In her career spanning over 25 years, she has held several key administrative positions across the state. She also served as the Mission Director for the National Health Mission and district magistrate in several districts, including Howrah and South 24 Parganas.The replacement of the top two administrative officials of the West Bengal government by the Election Commission (EC), though not unprecedented, may add a new chapter to the ongoing confrontation between the EC and the TMC government in the state.Ravik Bhattacharya is a highly experienced and award-winning journalist currently serving as the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, Ravik possesses deep expertise across a wide range of critical subjects and geographical areas. Experience & Authority Current Role: Chief of Bureau, The Indian Express, Kolkata. Expertise: Extensive reporting across West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and the Andaman Nicobar Islands. Ravik specializes in politics, crime, major incidents and issues, and investigative stories, demonstrating a robust command of complex and sensitive subjects. Experience: His long and distinguished career includes key reporting roles at several prestigious publications, including The Asian Age, The Statesman, The Telegraph, and The Hindustan Times. Ravik's current role marks his second stint with The Indian Express, having previously served as a Principal Correspondent in the Kolkata bureau from 2005 to 2010. Major Award: Ravik's authority and quality of work are substantiated by his winning of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for Political Reporting. Education: His strong academic foundation includes a Bachelor's degree with English Honours from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University, and a PG Diploma in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik Bhattacharya's extensive tenure, specialized beat coverage, and notable award confirm his status as a trusted and authoritative voice in Indian journalism, particularly for stories emanating from Eastern India. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd