Kolkata: The Union home ministry has extended the tenure of Bengal DGP Siddh Nath Gupta by six months, just two days before the second phase of Assembly elections. Gupta, who was scheduled to retire on April 30, will now continue in office for an additional six months.Gupta is the first DGP in the state in the last 25 years, at least, who has got an extension, administrative sources said.The decision was communicated to chief secretary Dushyant Nariala through an official letter issued on Monday. According to a notification by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, the extension was granted in public interest under the provisions of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, following a proposal from the ministry of home affairs.Gupta, a 1992-batch IPS officer, was appointed as the state DGP after the EC ordered a reshuffle in the police leadership soon after announcing the poll schedule. On March 16, Piyush Pandey was removed from the DGP post, and Gupta was brought in as his successor. The EC also ordered changes in several key positions, including the Kolkata Police commissioner, ADG (Law and Order), and DG (Prisons).The EC also replaced the state’s chief secretary and home secretary. Nandini Chakravorty was removed as chief secretary and replaced by Nariala, while Jagdish Prasad Meena was replaced by Sanghamitra Ghosh as home secretary. Several other senior police officials were also transferred as part of the exercise.The EC has repeatedly maintained that these measures were aimed at ensuring free and fair elections in the state. The first phase of polling, held on April 23 across 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts, recorded a turnout exceeding 93%. The EC described the polling as largely peaceful.State chief electoral officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal said that no disturbances were reported within 100 metres of polling stations. “There were some minor incidents outside booths, but no reports of fatalities. Security arrangements were comprehensive,” he said, adding that no repoll would be required in any booth from the first phase.The second phase of polling is scheduled for Wednesday.
