Suvendu Adhikari Holds First Administrative Meeting as Bengal CM; CEO Manoj Agarwal Seated Next to Him Triggers Speculation

In his first major administrative engagement since taking oath as West Bengal’s ninth Chief Minister on Saturday, Suvendu Adhikari convened a high-level meeting with IAS officers of the state on Monday.

The newly sworn-in BJP leader, who assumed office following his party’s decisive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, is understood to have discussed a range of governance and administrative priorities with senior bureaucrats. His five other ministers, part of his cabinet - including Dilip Ghosh and Agnimitra Paul were also part of the meeting.

A notable presence at the meeting was Manoj Kumar Agarwal, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) during the recently concluded polls and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Agarwal, a 1990-batch IAS officer and president of the IAS Association in West Bengal, was seated right next to Chief Minister Adhikari - a position conventionally reserved for the Chief Secretary.

There was no official clarification on the exact capacity in which Agarwal attended the meeting. However, sources in the administration pointed out that there was “no issue” in inviting him, given his dual role as CEO (who functions under the state government) and president of the IAS Association. A former senior IAS officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told News The Truth that “there is no harm in calling him to such a meeting.”

The seating arrangement has nevertheless triggered speculation in bureaucratic and political circles that Agarwal could soon be appointed the state’s next Chief Secretary. Multiple sources indicated that the move may be formalised shortly, as the new government looks to finalise its top administrative team.

The presence of the Chief Electoral Officer has also drawn attention because of the highly contentious nature of the 2026 elections and the preceding SIR exercise. The Trinamool Congress had repeatedly accused the CEO’s office and the Election Commission of India of bias, alleging that deletions from the electoral rolls were aimed at favouring the BJP. Agarwal’s office had maintained that the process was conducted transparently and in accordance with ECI guidelines.

Separately, on Saturday itself - the day Suvendu Adhikari took oath - the government appointed retired IAS officer Dr Subrata Gupta as Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister. Gupta had served as the Election Commission’s Special Roll Observer for the SIR in West Bengal. Officials familiar with the deliberations said several key issues concerning state administration were taken up, though details of the discussions were not made public immediately.