Just days after being relieved of his duties as the Election Commission’s special observer for the West Bengal Assembly elections, senior bureaucrat Subrata Gupta has been appointed adviser to newly sworn-in Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The move, announced soon after the BJP government formally took charge in Bengal, is already drawing political attention because of Gupta’s controversial role during the state’s electoral process and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
On Saturday, Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal at Brigade Parade Ground in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Within hours of the swearing-in ceremony, Nabanna issued orders appointing key officials to the new administration.
Among the most significant appointments was that of Subrata Gupta, who has now been brought into the Chief Minister’s Office as an adviser. Gupta had earlier served as the Election Commission’s special observer during the recently concluded Assembly elections. Before that, he was assigned as the special roll observer during the controversial SIR process launched in the state last October.
Election Commission sources had earlier indicated satisfaction with Gupta’s handling of the SIR exercise, which reportedly played a role in his continuation during the election period. However, his tenure had triggered repeated criticism from the Trinamool Congress and the then state government.
Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on several occasions indirectly targeted Gupta during political rallies and public speeches. The Trinamool Congress also raised objections to his role during court proceedings related to the SIR process, alleging bias and administrative overreach. Despite the protests, the Election Commission did not remove him from his responsibilities during the elections.
Now, less than 48 hours after the Commission formally relieved him from election duty, Gupta has found a place in the newly formed Bengal government under Suvendu Adhikari, a development likely to intensify the political debate surrounding the conduct of the recent elections.
Alongside Gupta’s appointment, the government also named IAS officer Shantanu Bala as the Chief Minister’s Personal Secretary. A 2017-batch IAS officer, Bala previously served as Additional District Magistrate in South 24 Parganas district.
The rapid reshuffle and placement of officials closely linked to the election process into key administrative roles signal the new government’s attempt to quickly consolidate its governance structure. Political observers believe the appointments could become a fresh flashpoint between the BJP government and the opposition Trinamool Congress in the coming days.
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