The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday, April 25, directed the immediate transfer of officers-in-charge (OCs) of three Kolkata police stations, including the chief of Kalighat Police Station — the jurisdiction that covers West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's official residence on Harish Chatterjee Street. The sweeping personnel changes come just four days before Phase 2 polling on April 29, when 142 Assembly constituencies, including those in Kolkata, head to the ballot box in the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021.

Key Personnel Changes Ordered by ECI

Utpal Ghosh, the OC of Kalighat Police Station, has been replaced by Gautam Das, previously an inspector attached to the Special Branch of Kolkata Police. The ECI also ordered the removal of Uttam Paik, the additional OC of Kalighat Police Station, signalling a comprehensive overhaul of the station's command structure.

In addition, the Commission mandated changes at Alipore Police Station and Ultadanga Women's Police Station. Subrata Pandey has been appointed as the new OC of Alipore Police Station, while Chameli Mukherjee — previously serving as additional OC of Alipore — has been installed as the new in-charge of Ultadanga Women's Police Station.

Why Kalighat Police Station Transfer Carries Special Significance

The dual transfer at Kalighat Police Station — both the OC and additional OC — is particularly noteworthy for two critical reasons. First, the official residence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee falls directly under the jurisdiction of this police station, making its command structure a matter of electoral sensitivity.

Second, Kalighat Police Station is one of the stations operating under the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in south Kolkata — arguably the most high-profile seat in the entire West Bengal Assembly Elections. Bhabanipur pits Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directly against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, making it the single most-watched constituency in the state.

Electoral Context and Broader Implications

The ECI's intervention reflects a pattern of assertive pre-poll enforcement that the Commission has maintained throughout the 2021 West Bengal elections. The Commission has previously transferred several senior IPS officers and district officials in the state, citing concerns over the neutrality of the administrative machinery ahead of polling.

This comes amid a highly charged electoral atmosphere in West Bengal, where allegations of poll violence, booth capturing, and administrative bias have been traded between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The deployment of central forces and successive transfers of police personnel underscore the ECI's intent to ensure a level playing field.

Notably, the transfer of a police station OC whose jurisdiction covers the sitting Chief Minister's residence is an extraordinary step — one that signals the Commission's willingness to act regardless of political optics. Critics of the state government have long argued that local police stations in Kolkata operate under significant political influence, a charge the TMC has consistently denied.

Phase 2 Polling: What to Expect on April 29

A total of 142 Assembly constituencies will go to polls on April 29 in the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021. This phase covers the entirety of Kolkata and several adjoining districts, making it the decisive phase of the election. Massive central security force deployment is already underway across these constituencies.

With counting scheduled for May 2, the results of Phase 2 — including the outcome in Bhabanipur — will determine whether Mamata Banerjee retains power in Bengal or whether the BJP ends over a decade of TMC dominance. The ECI's last-minute police transfers add another layer of scrutiny to an already intensely watched electoral contest.