Former West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty (IAS:1994:WB), who was removed from the top bureaucratic post by the Election Commission of India (ECI) after the announcement of Assembly election dates, has now been entrusted with a crucial assignment in the BJP-led state government headed by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Sources in the state secretariat Nabanna said Chakraborty has been retained in her present position as “Principal Coordinator for Development Works”, a post functioning directly under the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), but with fresh responsibilities.
According to sources, her first major assignment would be to ensure smooth handover of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for installation of barbed wire fencing along the India-Bangladesh international border in West Bengal.
The development assumes significance as the newly-formed state cabinet led by CM Suvendu Adhikari, in its first meeting held on May 11, adopted a resolution to complete the process of land handover to the BSF within the next 45 days.
Sources said Chakraborty’s long administrative experience in important departments, especially the Home Department and later as Chief Secretary, played a key role in her selection for the assignment. Besides border-related work, she is also expected to monitor implementation of centrally-sponsored development projects in the state.
An IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, Chakraborty was considered a close confidant of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and became the first woman Chief Secretary of the state earlier this year. However, her tenure remained short-lived as she was removed from the post by the ECI within hours after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced polling dates on March 15.
Her appointment as Chief Secretary in January had also triggered controversy as several senior IAS officers were superseded during the process.
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