Manoj Kumar Agarwal, West Bengal’s current Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), is likely to be appointed as the next Chief Secretary of the newly-elected BJP government in the state, as per sources in the administration.
This comes after the successful conduct of what has widely been described as a free, fair and peaceful Assembly elections in Bengal.
Agarwal is a 1990-batch IAS officer and an alumnus of IIT Kanpur. He is regarded as one of the most experienced bureaucrats in the state administration.
While several officers from his batch — such as Vivek Kumar, Hridesh Mohan and Vivek Bharadwaj — remain in service, administrative circles are suggesting that Agarwal has emerged as the frontrunner for the top bureaucratic post owing to his performance in handling key responsibilities over the years.
According to sources, Agarwal’s stewardship of the CEO’s office during the 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal significantly strengthened his credentials. The Election Commission’s confidence in the smooth and orderly conduct of polling under his leadership is believed to have played a major role in elevating his stature within the bureaucracy.
Despite being one of the senior-most IAS officers in the state, Agarwal was earlier overlooked for the post of Chief Secretary — a decision that is said to have caused disappointment within sections of the administrative fraternity close to him. Instead, the outgoing Mamata Banerjee-led government had recommended his name to the Election Commission for the post of Chief Electoral Officer. However, officials now believe that his successful execution of “Mission Election” may finally pave the way for what had long remained an unrealised ambition.
Notably, the current CEO is scheduled to retire on July 31. Before that, he could be appointed as the Chief Secretary for an initial tenure of around two-and-a-half months, with the possibility of an extension if required.
On Thursday, incumbent Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala reportedly visited the CEO office and held a meeting with Agarwal, further fuelling speculation over the impending administrative reshuffle in the state.
Over the course of his career, Agarwal has held several key positions in the West Bengal government. He first served in the state as District Magistrate of Burdwan in 2001. Subsequently, he went on to serve as Chairman of the West Bengal Highway Corporation, Principal Secretary of the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, Principal Secretary of the Food Department, Additional Chief Secretary of the Fire and Emergency Services Department, and Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest Department. Also, he is currently serving as President of the IAS Association in the state.
The BJP is set to form the government in West Bengal on May 9 after securing a decisive mandate in the 2026 Assembly elections. Officials believe that the smooth electoral process overseen by Agarwal and his team has not only reassured voters across the state, but has also reinforced the Election Commission’s credibility nationwide.
Against this backdrop, Manoj Kumar Agarwal now appears poised to finally realise his long-awaited elevation to the state’s top administrative post.