The Election Commission (EC) has directed the removal of bureaucrats and officials from various parts of India in preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Among those who have been ordered to be removed are West Bengal’s Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Iqbal Chahal. The EC has also ordered the removal of Home Secretaries from six states including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The EC’s decision is in line with its commitment to ensuring fairness and credibility in the electoral process.
According to reports, the EC has asked state governments to transfer officials who have completed three years of service or those who are working in their home districts and are involved in election-related duties. The aim of this directive is to prevent any form of bias or undue influence in the electoral process. The EC has also taken action against officials holding charge in the respective Chief Minister’s Office in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh.
However, it has been reported that Maharashtra did not fully comply with the EC’s directive regarding the transfer of municipal commissioners and additional and deputy municipal commissioners. As a result, the EC expressed its displeasure to the state chief secretary and directed the transfer of the concerned officials by 6 pm on Monday. The chief secretary was also instructed to transfer similarly placed municipal commissioners and additional or deputy municipal commissioners from other corporations in Maharashtra.
The actions taken by the EC are part of its ongoing efforts to uphold fairness and credibility in the electoral system. As the Lok Sabha elections approach, the EC is determined to ensure a level playing field for all candidates and maintain the integrity of the democratic process. The Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 19 and will be conducted in seven phases. A total of 96.8 crore voters will be eligible to exercise their right to vote in these elections, as announced by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.
