Manoj Agarwal, a 1990-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of West Bengal by the newly formed BJP government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. This appointment has ignited political controversy due to Agarwal's previous role as Chief Electoral Officer during the recent Assembly elections, where approximately 91 lakh voters were removed from electoral rolls. Opposition parties, particularly the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Congress, claim that this move exemplifies political favoritism, arguing that Agarwal's transition from overseeing the elections to a top bureaucratic position raises questions about the integrity of the electoral process. TMC leaders have criticized the BJP and the Election Commission for allegedly disenfranchising voters. In contrast, the BJP has defended Agarwal's appointment as compliant with service rules, emphasizing his qualifications as the senior-most eligible officer. The appointment follows the reassignment of former Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala. Concurrently, the new government announced significant policy initiatives, including the implementation of Ayushman Bharat and other welfare schemes, as well as changes to state job application age limits.