Days ahead of polling for the first phase of the assembly polls, the Election Commission on Tuesday transferred West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Virendra and named Indian Police Service (IPS) officer P. Nirajnayan the new police chief.
The Election Commission, which wrote to the Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal, in this regard said the decision has been made after “reviewing the situation of poll preparedness” in the state.
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Asserting the compliance of the order is to be done immediately, the poll body directed the Chief Secretary to inform about the information latest by 10 AM of March 10.
Election Commission in its letter to the Bengal Chief Secretary wrote: "P Nirajnayan, IPS be posted as Director General & IGP of West Bengal in place of Virendra, IPS with immediate effect."
"Virendra, IPS should not be given any post which directly or indirectly relates to the conduct of the election. Compliance of the commission's order may be done immediately," EC added.
Voting for the assembly elections in West Bengal, which is witnessing a direct confrontation between the ruling Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will be held in eight phases beginning March 27 and ending on April 29. The results will be declared on May 2.