Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission has directed the state governments to shift out officers posted in their home states as well as those who have served in a particular place for a “considerably long period”. The poll panel in a letter to the chief secretaries of all states pointed out that the term of the present Lok Sabha as well as the state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh ends on different dates in June next year. In 2014 as well, the parliamentary polls as well as the assembly elections in four states were held together. The poll panel issues such directions to the states ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly polls to ensure that officials with political leanings do not interfere with the electoral process and do not disturb the level-playing field…