Newly sworn-in West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday held his first high-level administrative meeting with the State Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, signalling the start of key governance decisions under the new dispensation.
The meeting took place at a Public Works Department tent in the Maidan area near Brigade Parade Ground shortly after his swearing-in.
According to sources, the discussions centred on an impending administrative reshuffle following the change of government. With the transition of power, significant reassignments across departments are expected, particularly in view of the large-scale transfers carried out by the Election Commission of India ahead of the Assembly elections.
Uncertainty remains over whether officers transferred during the poll period will be reinstated to their previous postings, making the deliberations crucial for the administrative set-up.
Another key issue discussed was the progress of renovation work at the historic Writers' Building, also known as the Mahakaran. The BJP leadership had earlier indicated plans to shift the administrative headquarters back to Writers’ Building from Nabanna. However, with renovation work still incomplete, questions persist over the timeline for such a move.
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Sources said the meeting also examined interim arrangements for the functioning of the government. With several sections of Writers’ Building, including the main block, yet to be restored, alternative venues such as Nabanna and the Assembly Annex Building are being considered for immediate administrative operations.
Earlier, state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya had said that the venue for the first Cabinet meeting had not been finalised. Subsequent developments, including a meeting between the State Chief Secretary and the Legislative Assembly Secretary, have fuelled speculation that the Assembly Annex Building could host the inaugural Cabinet session.
In recent days, officials from the Public Works Department and other agencies have conducted multiple inspections of Writers’ Building and prepared plans to expedite the renovation work, with the aim of enabling a return of top bureaucrats at the earliest.
Until restoration is completed, either Nabanna or the Legislative Assembly complex is likely to serve as the operational hub of the state administration. Attention is now focused on where the new government will hold its first Cabinet meeting and begin its policy decisions.
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