Kolkata: The West Bengal government has forwarded a panel of three senior IAS officers to the Election Commission of India for the appointment of the state’s next Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), following the elevation of Manoj Kumar Agarwal (IAS: 1990: WB) as the new Chief Secretary of West Bengal.
According to official sources, the panel includes Neelam Meena (IAS: 1998: WB), Tanmay Chakrabarty (IAS: 2006: WB), and Moumita Godara Basu (IAS: 2007: WB). The Election Commission is expected to select one of the three officers to take charge as the state’s Chief Electoral Officer.
The development comes after Manoj Kumar Agarwal, who had been serving as the CEO of West Bengal since March 2025, was recently appointed Chief Secretary of the state government. During his tenure as CEO, Agarwal was associated with overseeing key electoral and administrative processes in the state.
Administrative Reshuffle and Election Management
Alongside the leadership transition, former special poll observer appointed by the Election Commission, Subrata Gupta (IAS: 1990: WB), has been appointed as Chief Advisor to the state administration. Gupta has previously held several important administrative assignments and was involved in election-related oversight responsibilities.
Officials noted that both Agarwal and Gupta were credited with managing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state, which involved large-scale electoral roll-related activities and administrative coordination.
Key Officers in the Race
The three officers under consideration bring significant administrative experience across departments and governance functions.
- Neelam Meena is a senior IAS officer of the 1998 batch with extensive experience in state administration.
- Tanmay Chakrabarty, a 2006-batch officer, has handled multiple administrative and governance assignments in West Bengal.
- Moumita Godara Basu, a 2007-batch IAS officer, has also served in several important administrative roles within the state government.
The appointment of the next CEO assumes importance ahead of future electoral exercises in the state, with the role involving coordination between the state administration and the Election Commission for the conduct of elections and electoral roll management.
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Role of the Chief Electoral Officer
The Chief Electoral Officer functions as the nodal authority for election management within the state and works under the supervision of the Election Commission of India. Responsibilities include overseeing electoral roll revisions, coordinating election preparedness, ensuring compliance with election guidelines, and facilitating smooth conduct of polls.
The Election Commission is expected to take a final decision on the appointment after reviewing the panel submitted by the state government.