Kolkata, India – West Bengal saw significant political and administrative activity on February 1, 2026, and in the preceding days. The Union Budget 2026, presented on Sunday, February 1, proposed new infrastructure projects for the state, drawing sharp criticism from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Concurrently, major reshuffles occurred in the state police administration, and tensions escalated between the state government and the Election Commission of India over voter roll revisions and observer appointments.
State Leadership Sees Major Reshuffle
The West Bengal government executed a broad reshuffle in its police administration on January 31, just before the retirement of Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar. The state appointed IPS officer Piyush Pandey as the Acting DGP. Supratim Sarkar took over as the new Commissioner of Kolkata Police. This extensive reshuffle involved the transfer of 52 officers across various levels of the Kolkata Police, including Commissioners and Additional DGPs.[indianmasterminds+1]
In a notable cultural appointment, Dr. Sayan Bhattacharya became the youngest-ever Director of the Indian Museum in Kolkata on January 30. The Indian Museum, founded in 1814, is the oldest and largest museum in India. Dr. Bhattacharya, previously the Deputy Director and Education Officer, holds a Ph.D. in Archaeology. He was also honored as "Man of Ideas" by West Bengal Governor Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose in January 2026.[indianmasterminds+3]
The Supreme Court also saw the West Bengal government and Governor agree on recommendations for eight Vice-Chancellor appointments for state universities by January 21. Additionally, the Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department of the West Bengal government issued several orders on January 30, including the appointment of two WBCS (Executive) officers as Special Secretaries and the assignment of additional charges to IAS officers like Dr. Krishna Gupta for the Irrigation and Waterways Department, and Shri Manish Jain as Additional Chief Secretary for the Forest Department.[drishtiias+1]
Election Commission Intensifies Scrutiny
Tensions between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) intensified ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. On January 29, the ECI appointed 15 IAS officers and 10 IPS officers from West Bengal as Central Election Observers for five poll-bound states, including West Bengal. This list controversially included state Home Secretary Jagdeesh Prasad Meena. The ECI mandated these officers attend an orientation program in New Delhi on February 5 and 6, warning of disciplinary action for non-compliance.[indianmandarins+1]
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee voiced strong concerns on January 31, writing to the Chief Electoral Officer. She alleged data manipulation during the voter roll revision process, known as Special Intensive Revision (SIR), claiming it was a "backdoor mechanism" to exclude eligible voters. Banerjee also questioned the "unilateral appointment" of thousands of micro-observers, stating these actions undermined democratic principles.[indianmandarins+1]
The SIR process itself has drawn public attention for summoning high-profile sports personalities, including cricketer Mohammed Shami and former cricketer Jhulan Goswami, to verify their citizenship due to missing old records. This initiative, while described by the government as a routine update, has caused stress for many residents in West Bengal.[m+1]
Key Developments in Infrastructure and Welfare
The Union Budget 2026, presented on February 1, included several proposals for West Bengal, though they were met with skepticism by state leaders. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a new dedicated freight corridor connecting Dankuni in West Bengal to Surat in Gujarat. The budget also outlined an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a major node at Durgapur and tourism-focused interventions in Purvodaya states, including West Bengal. BJP leaders like Rahul Sinha argued these projects would boost the state's economy and create jobs. However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dismissed the budget as a "political signalling tool" and "Humpty Dumpty Budget," claiming many proposals were "repackaged" old schemes.[thehindu+4]
Earlier in January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited West Bengal on January 17 and 18, flagging off various development projects. He dedicated to the nation India's first Vande Bharat sleeper train, running between Howrah and Guwahati. The Prime Minister also laid foundation stones for four railway projects, including a new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, and upgrades at New Jalpaiguri and Siliguri.[thehindu+3]
In housing, the West Bengal government announced plans to allocate over 1.6 million (16,36,522) more houses to beneficiaries under its 'Banglar Bari' housing scheme by mid-January 2026. Education initiatives also saw progress, with ECHO India and the School Education Department of West Bengal launching a statewide Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) training program for teachers on January 30. The Union Budget 2026 further proposed building girls' hostels in every district and integrating artificial intelligence into learning nationwide.[thehindu+3]
Environment and Sports Updates
Kolkata continued to face challenges with air quality in January 2026, recording severe Air Quality Index (AQI) levels up to 314. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has taken steps to control pollution, including instructing police and traffic outposts to be proactive in managing vehicle emissions, open fires, and construction dust. Environmentalists, however, stated these measures were "not enough" given the persistent high pollution levels.[socialnews+1]
In sports, West Bengal's football team is set to compete in the quarter-finals of the 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025-26. They will clash with Services on February 3, 2026.[socialnews]
The state remains a hub of dynamic developments, from infrastructure projects and administrative changes to ongoing electoral preparations and environmental concerns, all shaping its path forward in early 2026.[the-aiff]
