In a significant departure from a 25-year tradition, Bengal witnesses the appointment of Nandini Chakravorty as the new home secretary. Breaking gender barriers, she succeeds B. P. Gopalika, who assumes the role of the state chief secretary.
Former Chief Secretary H. K. Dwivedi, completing his tenure, transitions to Chief Advisor (Finance) for CM Mamata Banerjee, solidifying his role in the state’s financial advisory capacity.
Gopalika, a 1989-batch IAS officer, will hold the chief secretary position for a brief five months, scheduled to retire on May 31. The Centre had previously granted a six-month extension to Dwivedi as the chief secretary, responding to the state government’s request.
Before Chakravorty, the state had seen only one woman chief secretary, Lina Chakraborty, appointed on November 26, 1996. Chakravorty’s appointment brings a refreshing change to the administrative landscape.
Chakravorty, a geography graduate from Lady Brabourne College, holds an MA from the Centre for Study of Regional Development (CSRD) in JNU. Her IAS journey began in 1993, and she was honored with the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Award in the same year.
In a dual role, Chakravorty also serves as the state tourism and parliamentary affairs secretary, maintaining additional charges while taking on her new responsibilities as home secretary. Gopalika formally handed over the charge to her on Sunday.
Chakravorty’s appointment hasn’t been without controversy, as she found herself at the center of a political dispute earlier this year when removed as the principal secretary by Governor C. V. Ananda Bose. The Mamata Banerjee government disapproved of the move, highlighting tensions between the Raj Bhavan and the state government.
Trinamool Congress, welcoming the decision, refers to Chakravorty as a ‘ghorer meye’ (local girl) who has efficiently worked in her assigned departments. The party expresses curiosity about the Raj Bhavan’s response, considering the past differences.
As Chakravorty assumes her role alongside Rajeev Kumar, the newly appointed DGP, the state police directorate witnesses a complete leadership overhaul. With the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for 2024, these changes set the stage for an intriguing political landscape in West Bengal.
