Patna,(BiharTimes): The district magistrate of Patna and both the DM and SP of Nalanda, the home district of CM Nitish Kumar, are among dozens of IAS and IPS officers shifted in a pre-poll shake-up. In all 36 IAS and 41 IPS officers, including many DMs and SPs, were shifted on Saturday.

The move comes ahead of the likely visit of a team of Election Commission on August 7-8. It would be led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi.

Pratima Satish Kumar Verma, the current DM of Sitamarhi is new Patna DM. The outgoing DM of Patna Abhay Kumar Singh has been made Additional Secretary in General Administration department.

Tyagrajan S M will be the new DM of Nalanda. He would replace Budhhibhati Kartikey Dhanji, who has been made the Director Agriculture.

B Pradhan and Shreedhar Cheeribelu, who have gone for Central deputation and IAS Academy Mussorie respectively, have been relieved from posting in the state.

Additional Director General (ADG) Ravinder Kumar, currently posted at Vigilance Investigation Bureau (VIB) has been promoted to the post of DG.

SPs of Sheikhpura, Katihar, Saharsa, Madhubani, Khagaria, Gopalganj, Bettiah (West Champaran), Bagaha (West Champaran), Naugachhia (Bhagalpur), Araria, Kaimur, Supaul, Sheohar, Nalanda, Rohtas, Jamui, Siwan, Arwal, Madhepura, Sheohar, Bhagalpur, Samastipur and Muzaffarpur have been shifted.

Among those transferred include SP Siddharth Mohan Jain of Nalanda. He has been shifted to Katihar as SP, while Vivekanand, Additional SP (City) of Patna has been asked to take charge as Nalanda SP.