Neelam Meena becomes new CEO of West Bengal
The 1998-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre is replacing Manoj Kumar Agarwal, who was earlier appointed as the state's new Chief Secretary.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) today directed the West Bengal government and other state authorities to strictly implement the Supreme Court’s 19 January order related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has assured all citizens in the state that no one will be allowed to take the law into their hands and strict action will be taken in all such cases.
In a letter issued by the EC, the Mamata-led state government has been instructed to provide adequate manpower to the Chief Electoral Officer for deployment at the places of hearing to handle submission of documents/objections/hearing related to the ongoing SIR, 2026 in West Bengal.
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The poll body has also instructed the Director General of Police, West Bengal, the Commissioner of Police (Kolkata), the Superintendent of Police of each district, and the Collector to ensure that there are no law-and-order problems at the location and that the SIR-related activities proceed smoothly.
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The letter stated that the state authorities must take strict action for any non-compliance.
The order has been issued as SIR proceedings related to the collection of documents/hearing will be taking place at the Gram Panchayat Bhawans, public places in every Taluka, and Block Office of every Taluka (Sub-Division), as well as in the Ward Offices in the cities of the urban areas.
SIR phase 2 | Election Commission of India writes to West Bengal’s Chief Secretary, DGP and Kolkata Police Commissioner directing that SIR proceedings related to collection of documents/hearing to take place at the Gram Panchayat Bhawans, public places in every Taluka, and Block… pic.twitter.com/OJYAHFe7LG
— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2026
The Election Commission has also written to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state, directing that by 24 January 2026, the names of the persons, figuring under the category of “Logical Discrepancies” and also under the category of “Unmapped”, shall be displayed at all of the above locations.
It stated that the CEO will be designating a Gram Panchayat Bhawan or Block Office or Ward Office for each part of the electoral rolls, preferably within or near the polling station area, for submitting of documents and hearing.
The affected persons can submit documents/objections at the designated Panchayat Bhawan or Block Office or Ward office. Further, upto ten days from displaying the names of the persons in the Panchayat Bhawans/Block Offices/Ward Offices, as directed above, all such persons who have not yet submitted their claims, documents, or objections are allowed to do so within the extended period.
SIR phase 2 Election Commission of India writes to the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, directing that by 24.01.2026, the names of the persons, figuring under category of “Logical Discrepancies” and also under the category of “Unmapped”, shall be displayed at the Gram… pic.twitter.com/phlx4WxDxG
— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2026
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