THE VIEWS EXPRESS SPECIAL ELECTION COVERAGE Road to Bengal 2026 – Part 2: Administrative Reshuffle, Candidate Lists and DA Announcement Intensify Political Heat After the announcement of the schedule for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, political activity across West B

THE VIEWS EXPRESS SPECIAL ELECTION COVERAGE

Road to Bengal 2026 – Part 2: Administrative Reshuffle, Candidate Lists and DA Announcement Intensify Political Heat

After the announcement of the schedule for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, political activity across West Bengal has intensified rapidly.

Within hours of the election dates being declared, the Election Commission of India initiated a series of administrative changes aimed at ensuring a neutral electoral environment. At the same time, major political parties have begun releasing their candidate lists, while the state government has made a significant announcement regarding Dearness Allowance (DA) for employees.

These developments are likely to shape the political narrative in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

Major Administrative Changes by the Election Commission

Soon after the election dates were announced, the Election Commission of India ordered a major administrative reshuffle in the state.

Key changes include:

The Chief Secretary of West Bengal was replaced following the Commission’s directive.
The Home Secretary was also transferred.
A new Director General of Police (DGP) was appointed to oversee law-and-order during the election period.
Changes were also made in senior police leadership, including the position of Kolkata Police Commissioner.

According to the Election Commission, such administrative adjustments are part of standard procedures intended to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.

However, the decisions have triggered strong political reactions in the state.

Political Reactions to the Reshuffle

Leaders of the ruling All India Trinamool Congress have criticised the timing of the transfers, questioning whether such moves were necessary immediately after the election announcement.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concern over the sudden changes and raised questions about the implications for the state administration.

On the other hand, opposition parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party and leaders from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) argued that the Election Commission has the constitutional authority to take such steps to maintain neutrality during the electoral process.

BJP Releases First Candidate List

Amid the rising political momentum, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its first list of candidates for the 2026 Assembly elections, announcing nominees for 144 constituencies.

One of the biggest highlights of the list is the candidature of Suvendu Adhikari, who has been fielded from the Bhabanipur constituency.

Bhabanipur is widely known as a stronghold of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, making this contest one of the most closely watched political battles of the election.

Political observers believe this decision signals the BJP’s strategy of directly challenging the ruling party in high-profile constituencies.

CPI(M) Announces Candidate List

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its Left Front allies have also begun announcing their candidates.

In its initial list, the party has declared more than 190 candidates, aiming to strengthen its organisational presence across the state.

Prominent leaders such as Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and Minakshi Mukherjee are among the notable names in the list.

The Left Front is hoping to regain political ground after facing electoral setbacks in recent years.

Mamata Banerjee Announces DA for State Employees

In another significant development ahead of the elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a move related to Dearness Allowance (DA) for state government employees.

According to the announcement, the state government will begin the process of addressing pending DA payments under ROPA 2009, with financial disbursement expected to start in phases from March 2026.

The announcement has drawn attention in political circles, with analysts suggesting that the decision could influence the sentiments of government employees ahead of the elections.