Kolkata: In a significant development following the Bharatiya Janata Party's sweeping mandate in recent elections, three former top bureaucrats of West Bengal have resigned from their advisory positions to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Hari Krishna Dwivedi, and Manoj Pant, all former chief secretaries of the state, stepped down from their roles as chief advisors and principal secretary to the chief minister.
Mass Resignations of Retired Officers
According to an official source, the resignations are not limited to these three individuals. Several other retired officers who were serving as advisers and officers on special duty (OSDs) in various departments have also tendered their resignations. These bureaucrats were widely regarded as close associates of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, often referred to as Didi.
Alapan Bandyopadhyay's Role
Alapan Bandyopadhyay was the first among the trio to join the post of chief adviser to the chief minister in 2021. His appointment came on the eve of his retirement and was at the center of a contentious center-state tussle over a transfer order issued by the Union government, which the state government resisted. Bandyopadhyay's tenure as chief secretary was marked by this friction, and his subsequent appointment as chief adviser was seen as a move to retain his services.
Hari Krishna Dwivedi's Tenure
Hari Krishna Dwivedi, along with B P Gopalika, served as successive chief secretaries before joining as chief advisers to the chief minister. In 2023, the state government extended Dwivedi's tenure as chief secretary by six months, a decision that was opposed by the then Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. It remains unclear whether Gopalika, who is currently serving as the chairman of the West Bengal Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBIIDC), has also resigned.
Manoj Pant's Appointment
Manoj Pant, another former chief secretary, resigned from his position as principal secretary to the chief minister. The state government had issued a notice on December 31, 2025, appointing Pant to this role in the rank of chief secretary. His resignation adds to the list of departures from the chief minister's office.
Security of Official Files
In the wake of these resignations, Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala has issued a directive to all departments to ensure the proper safeguarding of important files. This move is seen as a precautionary measure to prevent any potential mishandling of sensitive documents during the transition.
The resignations come at a time when the political landscape in West Bengal is undergoing significant changes following the BJP's electoral success. The departure of these key bureaucrats is likely to impact the administrative machinery and the chief minister's advisory team.
