The Election Commission has replaced the inspector-in-charge of Nandigram police station a day before voting in the constituency, assigning the post to the inspector-in-charge of East Midnapore’s traffic control room as authorities tighten security for the by-election.
According to a notification issued on Monday, Ajay Kumar Mishra was removed from the post and replaced by Debashis Sarkar. The order took immediate effect and directed Sarkar to submit his joining report by Monday evening.
Sarkar had been serving as the inspector-in-charge of the East Midnapore traffic control room. He will now be responsible for maintaining law and order in Nandigram during the by-election, which is scheduled for Tuesday. The Commission’s notification, as reported by Anandabazar, did not state the reason for the last-minute change.
The replacement comes amid heightened security arrangements and what the report described as a tense political atmosphere in the constituency. The Election Commission has not publicly cited a specific incident or complaint as the basis for the transfer in the material available for this report.
Nandigram is one of two West Bengal constituencies going to the polls in the by-election, the other being Rejinagar in Murshidabad. The counting of votes in both constituencies is scheduled for October 9. No similar change in the officer-in-charge of the local police station was reported in Rejinagar.
The Nandigram seat fell vacant after Suvendu Adhikari, who had won the constituency in the 2026 Assembly election, retained Bhabanipur after winning both seats and relinquished Nandigram. In Rejinagar, Humayun Kabir vacated the seat after also winning from Naoda, requiring a separate by-election there.
The Nandigram contest has already been marked by political controversy. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Hasirani Rath, the mother of Adhikari’s deceased personal aide, Chandranath Rath. The Trinamool Congress candidate withdrew from the race, while Congress candidate Milan Pradhan is contesting with support from Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.
Pradhan was arrested in an old murder case after receiving that support and is currently outside jail on interim bail, according to the report. After his release, he alleged that police officers had taken him away and asked him to withdraw his nomination, and that he was arrested in a false case after refusing. The police have not commented on those allegations, which remain claims attributed to the candidate.
The immediate operational requirement for the new officer-in-charge is to assume responsibility before polling begins. The Commission’s order specifically sought confirmation of Debashis Sarkar’s joining by Monday evening, ahead of voting in Nandigram on Tuesday.
