West Bengal bars new teachers from contesting elections

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. File | Photo Credit: PTI

Newly appointed teachers in State government-run and government-aided schools will no longer be able to engage in politics directly and contest elections in West Bengal. This decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday (October 28, 2026).

“We have made a very important decision. In other States, government teachers cannot directly participate in politics. The West Bengal government took a historic decision in the Cabinet. From today onwards, all the new teachers who will be appointed through the School Service Commission will not be able to participate in any direct politics,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Adhikari, however, clarified that the Cabinet decision would not affect teachers working at present and were involved in politics or had been elected as public representatives. Five current Ministers, including School Education Minister Dipak Barman, have been teachers before switching to active politics.