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2026 Assembly Polls | No home districts, no 3-year tenures: CEO sets norms for West Bengal police overhaul, issues directives

The order targets officers directly connected to the election processes, including: ADGs, IGs, DIGs, and SSPs/SPs; Additional SPs, sub-divisional police officers, and circle inspectors; police sub-inspectors and inspectors in charge of police stations.

2 min readKolkataJan 15, 2026 06:19 AM IST

West Bengal Assembly elections, West Bengal Assembly polls, West Bengal police, Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office, Election Commission, Kolkata news, WEst Bengal news, Indian express, current affairs

Additionally, any officer due to retire within the next six months is to be excluded from the election machinery.

The Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office has initiated a large-scale administrative overhaul in West Bengal, with the state government formally notified to reshuffle police personnel ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Following directives from the Election Commission of India, a formal notification has been issued to the state government to reshuffle police personnel. The core of the directive focuses on the EC’s long-standing policy regarding the “3-year tenure.”

“Any police officer (from Sub-Inspector rank and above) who has completed three years in their current district during the last four years, or will do so by the cut-off date (likely May 31, 2026), must be transferred. No officer directly connected to election management can be posted in their home district. Officers transferred out of a district cannot be posted to another district within the same Parliamentary Constituency,” the directive states.

The order targets officers directly connected to the election processes, including: ADGs, IGs, DIGs, and SSPs/SPs; Additional SPs, sub-divisional police officers, and circle inspectors; police sub-inspectors and inspectors in charge of police stations.

Those in functional departments like computerization, training and special branches are exempt unless assigned election tasks.

The CEO has warned that any officer with a history of recommendations for disciplinary action by the ECI in past elections should not be assigned election duties.

Additionally, any officer due to retire within the next six months is to be excluded from the election machinery.

The state government is expected to announce new postings soon.

Sweety Kumari

Sweety Kumari is a seasoned journalist reporting from West Bengal for The Indian Express. With over a decade of experience in the media industry and eight years specifically with The Indian Express, she demonstrates considerable Expertise and Authority across a diverse range of critical beats. Experience & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express, reporting from West Bengal. Extensive Tenure: Over 10 years of experience in the media industry, with a long association (8 years) with The Indian Express, contributing to a high level of Trustworthiness. Diverse Coverage: Covers crucial beats including Crime, Defence, Health, and Politics, alongside writing on trending topics. Investigative Focus: Possesses a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories, demonstrating depth and skill in impactful journalism. Beat Versatility: Has honed her craft across diverse beats, including aviation and reporting on various incidents, ensuring well-rounded and comprehensive reportage. Career Start: Began her journalistic journey as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a news portal in Kolkata, providing a foundational understanding of media landscape and audience engagement. Education Advanced Education: Holds a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, equipping her with advanced media theory and skills. Undergraduate Education: Holds an Honours degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College. Multilingual Skill: Her fluency in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili enhances her reach and capability to connect with diverse sources and communities in the region, adding a layer of accessibility and authenticity to her reporting. Regional Roots: Originally from Bihar, she was brought up and educated in Kolkata (Kendriya Vidyalaya Salt Lake), giving her a deep, personal understanding of the cultural and political nuances of her reporting region. Sweety Kumari's combination of significant experience, specialization in key beats like Crime and Politics, and strong academic background makes her a trusted and authoritative contributor to The Indian Express. ... Read More

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