New Delhi: In a move aimed at ensuring fairness in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission issued orders on Monday for the transfer of key bureaucratic officials across several states, alongside the replacement of the Director General of Police (DGP) in West Bengal, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The directive includes the removal of home secretaries from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Additionally, the DGP of West Bengal is slated for replacement, as confirmed by sources.
Furthermore, the General Administrative Department secretaries of Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have been instructed to step down. Following the announcement of the election schedule, Election Commission Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar also mandated the removal of Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, along with additional commissioners and deputy commissioners.
Notably, the Commission had previously instructed all state governments to transfer officers involved in election-related tasks who have either completed three years in their current positions or are stationed in their home districts. However, Maharashtra had not fully complied with these directives regarding certain municipal commissioners and additional/deputy municipal commissioners.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the state’s response, the Commission directed the Chief Secretary to expedite the transfer of the BMC officials and the additional/deputy commissioners, with a deadline set for 6 pm on Monday.
Additionally, the Chief Secretary was tasked with transferring similar officials from other municipal corporations across Maharashtra. These actions are part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to maintain fairness and integrity in the electoral process, a goal emphasized by CEC Kumar on multiple occasions.
The decision follows a meeting of the Commission, comprising CEC Kumar and fellow Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, held earlier on Monday.
