Bengal State Election Commissioner Alapan Bandopadhyay.
Senior bureaucrat Alapan Bandyopadhyay left West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's entourage at Thimpu and flew into Kolkata this afternoon to take over as the state's new election commissioner.
Mr Bandyopadhyay, currently a Principal Secretary, replaces Sushanta Ranjan Upadhyay who resigned on Tuesday, apparently under pressure from the ruling Trinamool Congress which had challenged his decision to put off indefinitely counting for civic polls to three civic bodies on Saturday - Salt Lake, Asansol and Bally. The opposition had complained of widespread rigging by the Trinamool in the polls.
The new poll panel chief is likely to announce at 6 pm today whether re-polling will be held in some booths. He is also likely to announce whether counting will be held on October 8 and 9, as announced by his predecessor on Monday.
"An order has been issued asking me to join as state election commissioner on a temporary basis. I will be joining. Before that, without consulting papers and the officers, it is not possible to say anything," said Mr Bandyopadhyay on being asked if it was feasible to hold re-polling and counting according to the schedule set by his predecessor.
Normally, retired bureaucrats are appointed as election commissioners. Many have questioned if it would be possible for Mr Bandyopadhyay, a serving government officer, to function independently.
"I have been told that as per law, the state government has issued an order. I have been asked to carry out the order. It is possible in terms of the law," he said, adding, "Lawfully, if a government issues an order, it has to be carried out by a government servant."