The BJP is reportedly moving the administrative headquarters for the chief minister back to the historic Writers' Building from the Nabanna, sources say. The Chief Minister's office, wwill likely be on the second floor of the Writer's Building, as it is considered the most suitable.
Sources close to the matter said that the Chief Minister’s office will likely be inaugurated in the Writers' quarters within a few weeks after the floor laying and renovation of the second floor of the building is complete. Officials said that the spacious and open part of the second floor is most suitable for administrative work.
The renovation of the first floor, which had served as the office for former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, has still not been completed. The current renovation project is worth around 102 crore rupees.
The party has been keen to move back to the Writers' building as it carries historical and symbolic significance.
It had served as the seat of the West Bengal government for decades until October 2013. Mamata Banerjee moved the secretariat to Nabana two years after she came to power.
The building was originally built in 1777 as office quarters for East India company clerks.
One party leader said that people in Bengal ‘felt hurt’ when the secretariat was moved out of the building and that they wanted to connect with the sentiment.
BJP's Bengal President Samik Bhattacharya also said that party backed the move. "We have been saying since 2021 that we will run the government from Writers' Buildings. I announced this during the election campaign this year as well. But the final decision will be taken by the new chief minister of our party," he said.
Officials from the public works department had said that only blocks 1 and 2 could be made operational in the short term and that those currently housing engineering offices would need relocation.
