Retired IAS Officer Subrata Gupta Appointed Advisor to West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari

In a significant political development in West Bengal, retired Indian Administrative Service officer Subrata Gupta has been appointed as an advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, according to reports from the Press Trust of India (PTI). This appointment comes just days after Adhikari was sworn in as the state’s chief minister, marking a historic shift in the state’s political landscape.

Subrata Gupta’s role as an advisor follows his recent position as the Special Roll Observer for the Election Commission, where he oversaw a crucial voter roll revision exercise ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. His extensive experience in administrative matters is expected to be an asset as the new government seeks to navigate the complexities of governance following the BJP’s momentous victory.

Adhikari’s ascension to the chief ministerial position is particularly noteworthy as he is the first leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to hold this office, effectively ending a 15-year long governance by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. The BJP’s triumph in the recent elections, where it secured 207 out of 294 Assembly seats, has been viewed as a seismic shift in West Bengal’s political sphere.

Gupta’s appointment comes in the wake of significant controversies surrounding the electoral process in the state. The special intensive revision of voter rolls led to the initial exclusion of over 61 lakh voters, with ongoing adjustments and adjudications of nearly 60 lakh cases deemed “doubtful or pending.” By early April, approximately 91 lakh voters had been removed from the rolls, representing almost 12% of the electorate prior to the revision. These figures have sparked a range of appeals and challenges, many of which remain unresolved before appellate tribunals.

This appointment of Gupta is not only strategic in terms of election administration but also signifies the BJP’s commitment to establishing a strong governance framework in West Bengal. As the state gears up for its new political chapter, the roles of seasoned bureaucrats like Gupta could be pivotal in ensuring effective administration and addressing the concerns emerging from the recent electoral shifts.

Source: scroll.in