EC's Bengal SIR poll observer Subrata Gupta is CM Suvendu Adhikari's advisor

The West Bengal government has appointed retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta as adviser to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The move comes as the new dispensation reshapes the Chief Minister's Office and key administrative posts.

In Short

• Gupta, a 1990-batch IAS officer, was appointed through an official notification
• He earlier served the Election Commission during the SIR exercise
• Officials said his experience would aid policy coordination and governance

The new BJP government in West Bengal has moved quickly to restructure the Chief Minister’s Office, naming retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta as adviser to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Gupta, an officer of the 1990 batch, was engaged by the Election Commission as the Special Roll Observer for the SIR exercise, held prior to the recently-concluded assembly elections.

According to an official notification issued on Saturday, Gupta has been brought in as adviser to the Chief Minister at a time when the new administration is shaping its governance structure after the Assembly election victory.

Officials in the administration said Gupta’s long bureaucratic experience is expected to help the government in policy coordination and governance-related matters.

In another key appointment, IAS officer Shantanu Bala has been named private secretary to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Bala, a 2017-batch IAS officer, was serving as additional district magistrate of South 24 Parganas before being moved to the Chief Minister’s Office.

Officials said the appointment forms part of the broader restructuring currently underway in the CMO following the change in government in the state.

Both Gupta and Bala have been asked to take charge of their new assignments immediately, according to the official notifications.

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