Kumar Bahukhandi
Former IAS officer Subrata Gupta has been appointed as the advisor to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. (Photo: PTI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has begun constituting his team. Retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta has been appointed as his advisor, while IAS officer Shantanu Bala has been named his Private Secretary.
Major administrative changes have commenced in West Bengal following the formation of the BJP government. Retired IAS officer Subrata Gupta has been appointed as the advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. An official notification regarding this appointment was issued by the state government on Saturday. A 1990-batch IAS officer of the Bengal cadre, Subrata Gupta had been appointed by the Election Commission as a ‘Special Roll Observer’ during the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections of 2026.
Following the successful completion of the electoral process, the Election Commission relieved him of his duties on Thursday. A notification issued by West Bengal’s Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms states that the Governor has approved the appointment of retired IAS officer Dr. Subrata Gupta as the Advisor to the Chief Minister of West Bengal, with immediate effect. According to government officials, Subrata Gupta’s extensive administrative experience will assist the new government in matters related to policy and governance.
Subrata Gupta Possesses Extensive Administrative Experience
Dr. Subrata Gupta is a native of Bengal. In his capacity as the Special Roll Observer for the Central Election Commission, he shouldered significant responsibilities—ranging from overseeing the ‘Special Intensive Revision’ of the voter list in West Bengal to the successful conclusion of the Assembly elections.
The Commission had appointed him as the ‘Special Roll Observer’ for West Bengal in November 2025 to supervise the ‘Special Intensive Revision’ (SIR) of the voter list ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Subrata Gupta brings with him 35 years of administrative experience, having held 27 different portfolios throughout his career. He has a good understanding of Bengal.
He has held various administrative responsibilities in the state during the governments of the Left parties and the TMC.
IAS Shantanu Bala to Serve as CM’s Private Secretary
In a related development, the State Government has appointed Shantanu Bala—a 2017-batch IAS officer—as the Private Secretary to the Chief Minister. Prior to this appointment, Shantanu Bala was posted as the Additional District Magistrate in the South 24 Parganas district. Officials state that these appointments have been made as part of a restructuring of the Chief Minister’s Office following the change in government. Both officers have been directed to assume their new responsibilities with immediate effect.
The swearing-in ceremony for the new government took place on May 9 at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, and Suvendu Adhikari became the state’s first BJP Chief Minister.
It is worth mentioning that in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP achieved a historic victory, bringing an end to the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee. The results of the Bengal elections were declared on May 4, with the BJP securing a massive majority by winning 207 seats; the TMC was reduced to just 80 seats.
Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in her stronghold of Bhabanipur. He also secured a victory in the Nandigram constituency. He will now be required to vacate one of these seats.
For the first time in 55 years, the Chief Minister of West Bengal hails from a region outside of Kolkata. Suvendu Adhikari belongs to the Purba Medinipur district. Prior to this, the last leader to become Chief Minister from a region outside Kolkata was Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee, whose tenure concluded in June 1971.
