Former Election Commission Special Poll Observer Subrata Gupta has been appointed as Advisor to newly sworn-in West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, triggering fresh political discussions in the state. The appointment was announced on Saturday through a notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms on the day Adhikari took oath as Chief Minister.
Who is Subrata Gupta?
Subrata Gupta is a retired IAS officer who played a key role during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. He was appointed by the Election Commission of India as a Special Poll Observer during one of the state’s most closely watched elections.
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Gupta was closely involved in supervising the election process across Bengal, particularly in areas considered politically sensitive. He is widely credited for helping oversee a largely violence-free Assembly election in the state.
Appointment after government formation
His appointment as Advisor to the Chief Minister comes immediately after the formation of the new government led by Suvendu Adhikari. The move is being viewed as significant because of Gupta’s long administrative experience and his familiarity with West Bengal’s political and governance structure.
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Shantanu Bala named private secretary
Alongside Gupta’s appointment, the state government also announced that Shantanu Bala has been appointed as the Chief Minister’s private secretary. Before this role, Bala served as the Additional District Magistrate of South 24 Parganas.
