IPS officer and chief of Chandernagore Police Commissionerate Humayun Kabir resigned on Friday three months before his scheduled retirement.

Gaurav Sharma, who was joint commissioner (establishment) in the Calcutta police, replaces Kabir, a government order said.

Many bureaucrats said this change of guard was significant ahead of the Bengal polls.

Kabir did not choose to comment on his resignation or its timing.

“Any posting at this juncture will be important because of the coming elections,” said a senior IPS officer.

Sharma, who also got additional charge of the special task force of Calcutta police, has been asked to take charge on Sunday, said a source.

Sharma, a 2005-batch officer has earlier held key posts like commissioner of Howrah city police, SP Howrah rural, deputy commissioner (north), deputy commissioner (southeast) in Calcutta police, SP Jhargram and ASP Siliguri.

Sources in the state home department said more changes in the rank and file of the Bengal and Calcutta police were likely in the coming days.