Bengal Assembly Election 2026: Who is West Bengal CEO, Manoj Kumar Agarwal? The Bengal Assembly Election 2026 is one of the most talked-about elections in India right now. With voting held in two phases — 23 April 2026 and 29 April 2026 — all eyes are on how this massive democratic process is being managed. At the centre of this electoral machinery is Manoj Kumar Agarwal, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal. But who exactly is he? What is his educational background? And what role is he playing in the Bengal Assembly Election 2026? Let's find out everything in simple language.
Who is Manoj Kumar Agarwal – West Bengal CEO?
Manoj Kumar Agarwal is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1990 batch of the West Bengal cadre. He was officially appointed as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal on 28 March 2025 by the Election Commission of India (ECI). His main responsibility is to oversee and manage the Bengal Assembly Election 2026 in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
He replaced Arij Aftab, who had served as CEO since February 2017 and retired in December 2024. After Aftab's retirement, Dibyendu Das was managing CEO duties temporarily until Agarwal took charge.
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Education Qualification of Manoj Kumar Agarwal
Manoj Kumar Agarwal completed his early schooling in West Bengal. He pursued higher education from a reputed institution in India and cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination, entering the IAS in 1990. His strong academic background and administrative training have shaped him into one of the most experienced bureaucrats in the state. He has over 35 years of government service experience.
Career Journey: From District Officer to CEO
Manoj Kumar Agarwal has served in many important government positions across his career. Here is a quick look at his key postings:
| Year | Post |
| 1990 | Trainee IAS Officer |
| 1991–1992 | Additional District Magistrate, Bardhaman |
| 1992–1994 | Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Bardhaman |
| 1994–1997 | Additional District Magistrate, Purulia |
| 1997–1999 | Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jalpaiguri |
| 1999–2001 | District Magistrate, North Dinajpur |
| 2001–2003 | District Magistrate, Bardhaman |
| 2003–2004 | Deputy Secretary, Dept. of Personnel & Training (Central Govt.) |
| 2004–2009 | Private Secretary, Ministries of Water Resources & I&B |
| 2009–2010 | Commissioner (Land Disposal), Delhi Development Authority |
| 2010–2014 | Technical Education, Mass Education, Urban Development Depts., WB |
| 2014–2017 | Principal Secretary, Personnel & Administrative Reforms Dept. |
| 2017–2020 | Principal Secretary & Commissioner, Food & Supplies Dept. |
| 2020–2024 | Principal Secretary / Addl. Chief Secretary, Fire & Emergency Services |
| Nov 2024 | Additional Chief Secretary, Forest Dept. + Fire & Emergency Services |
| March 2025 | Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal |
Role of the CEO in Bengal Assembly Election 2026
As the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal is the nodal officer between the Election Commission of India and the state government. His key responsibilities include:
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Supervising voter list preparation and updates
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Ensuring free and fair polling across all 294 assembly constituencies
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Managing the deployment of security forces
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Coordinating with district election officers across West Bengal
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Monitoring the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
As per ECI 2026 data, the final voter count for the Bengal Assembly Election 2026 stands at approximately 6.82 crore (68,251,008 voters), including 3.60 crore male, 3.44 crore female, and 1,382 third-gender voters.
Key Facts About Bengal Assembly Election 2026
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Total Assembly Seats: 294
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Polling Phases: 2 (Phase 1 – 23 April 2026 | Phase 2 – 29 April 2026)
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Schedule Announced by ECI: 15 March 2026
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Total Eligible Voters (Final): 6,82,51,008
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Security Personnel Deployed: Over 3,50,000 (including NIA for the first time)
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Current CEO: Manoj Kumar Agarwal (IAS, 1990 Batch, WB Cadre)
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Previous CEO: Arij Aftab (served 2017–December 2024)
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2026 West Bengal State's Assembly Election Result: 4 May 2026
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Assembly Tenure Ending: 7 May 2026
Why Was Manoj Kumar Agarwal Appointed?
The Election Commission of India selects the CEO from a panel submitted by the state government. Agarwal was chosen due to his vast administrative experience of over three decades across revenue, disaster management, forest, food supply, and fire & emergency services. His experience of working both at the state and central government levels made him a strong candidate for this critical role.
Manoj Kumar Agarwal, a 1990-batch IAS officer from West Bengal, is the man responsible for conducting the Bengal Assembly Election 2026 — one of India's biggest state elections. With over 35 years of service, he brings deep administrative knowledge to this critical role. As West Bengal votes across two phases on 23 April and 29 April 2026, his leadership as CEO is central to ensuring a smooth, fair, and transparent election process for over 6.82 crore voters.
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