The Election Commission of India has ordered the immediate replacement of the officer-in-charge of Nandigram Police Station in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district, a day before voters go to the polls in the Assembly bypoll. Debasish Sarkar, who was serving as the district traffic control room officer, has been assigned to replace Ajay Kumar Mishra.
The order was issued on Monday, with polling scheduled for Tuesday in Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies. The Commission directed that the change be implemented immediately and that a compliance report be submitted by Monday evening, according to a statement cited by The Telegraph India.
The Election Commission did not disclose the reason for the replacement. The change followed complaints from opposition parties alleging that Mishra was close to the ruling party. The report did not include an independent response from Mishra or the parties that made the allegations.
Mishra had been posted as the inspector-in-charge of Nandigram police station ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Sarkar was serving as the traffic inspector in Tamluk and also held charge as the officer-in-charge of the Cyber Crime police station in East Midnapore.
Sarkar told The Telegraph India that he had learnt about the change but had not yet received the formal order. He said he was in Nandigram for traffic arrangements because Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was scheduled to visit the constituency to cast his vote when he learnt about the decision.
The immediate change places the local police station under a new officer as the constituency prepares for polling. Police stations have operational responsibilities during elections that include maintaining public order, coordinating with election authorities and responding to complaints and incidents reported during the voting process.
The Nandigram bypoll was necessitated after Adhikari, who won the seat in the 2026 Assembly elections, retained the Bhabanipur constituency in south Kolkata and vacated Nandigram. The Rejinagar bypoll was similarly required after Humayun Kabir, who had won both Rejinagar and Naoda in the 2026 elections, retained Naoda and gave up Rejinagar.
Polling in both constituencies is scheduled for Tuesday. Counting of votes is scheduled for October 9.
