Bengal Transfers 64 IAS Officers, 10 District Magistrates Ahead Of EC's SIR Push From November 1

Last Updated:October 27, 2025, 13:34 IST

As the reshuffle cannot happen once the SIR process begins, the state’s administrative headquarters issued the orders before time to pre-empt any procedural constraints

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has already termed SIR as “another form of NRC”, alleging that it is a mechanism through which “voters will be deleted" from the electoral rolls. (PTI)

The West Bengal government has initiated transfers of nearly 64 IAS officers and 10 District Magistrates across the state, including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Cooch Behar, Murshidabad, Purulia, Darjeeling, Malda, Birbhum, Jhargram and East Midnapore.

The reshuffle comes ahead of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, which is likely to be implemented from November 1.

Since the reshuffle cannot happen once the SIR process begins, the state’s administrative headquarters at Nabanna issued the transfer orders ahead of time to pre-empt any procedural constraints during the revision exercise.

News18 had reported last week that the SIR exercise may begin in the state at any time and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bengal has communicated the same to all District Magistrates, stressing that preparations should start immediately and all pending work must be completed without delay.

Each District Election Officer (DEO) and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) has been instructed to set up a help desk in their offices for SIR-related matters. A multi-party meeting will be called the day after the official announcement of the SIR.

The Trinamool Congress has planned a massive anti-SIR rally in Kolkata, which will be led by party’s National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Party sources told News18 that workers and supporters from across Bengal are expected to participate, making it one of the party’s biggest mobilisation drives in recent months.

According to sources, while the Election Commission is fully prepared to implement SIR, TMC is determined to oppose it on every possible front. Party insiders say the SIR issue will be a key element of the TMC’s election campaign narrative, and the November 2 rally will serve as a launchpad for the movement.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has already termed SIR as “another form of NRC", alleging that it is a mechanism through which “voters will be deleted" from the electoral rolls. Sources further reveal that the TMC aims to amplify this perception among its leaders and cadres and subsequently take the message to voters across the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, welcomed the SIR exercise and said over one crore illegal voters will be weeded out in the process.

Kamalika Sengupta

Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East...Read More

Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East...

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