The Election Commission has transferred 173 police station heads across West Bengal, including 31 under Kolkata Police, to ensure free and fair Assembly polls.
Officers in key constituencies such as Bhabanipur and Nandigram were included in the reshuffle, which aimed to minimize local influence and maintain a level playing field during the elections.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's long-held bastion, Bhabanipur, is set to face her former protege-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari, making it one of the state's most closely watched and fiercely contested Assembly seats.
The OCs of other key stations, such as Alipore and Haridevpur, were also transferred, with officials citing the need for neutrality in law enforcement during the elections.
The directive was issued by the commission from its New Delhi office, amid continuing friction between the state government and the Centre over the transfer of officials ahead of elections.
