EC removes home secys in 6 states

Those in BJP-ruled states also included in reshuffle

Less than 48 hours after the code of conduct came into effect, the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered the removal of top bureaucrats in six states, including those presently under the rule of the BJP. More such orders are expected to come in the coming days. Those who have been asked to be removed from their present posts include Rajeev Kumar, director general of police in West Bengal.

Home secretaries in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand- all states where BJP is in power, along-with Home secretaries of Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh that have non-BJP Chief Ministers, too have been removed.

Also impacted by Monday’s order is the 1989 batch IAS officer, Iqbal Singh Chahal who is presently posted as Brihanmumbai municipal commissioner. Maharashtra is presently ruled by BJP and its alliance partners.

Apart from these vital posts, the ECI ordered the transfer of Secretaries of the general administrative departments in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh.

In West Bengal, the ECI has asked the Chief Secretary of West Bengal to shift Kumar to a ‘non-election’ related post and the charge of the DGP be handed to the next senior officer. The Chief Secretary was also asked to send a panel of three eligible officers for the post of DGP and Inspector General of Police to the ECI by 5 PM.

While some of the officials, impacted by today’s order, were found to be holding dual charge in the offices of the respective chief ministers of each state, some others were changed because of their perceived closeness to people holding power in state.

Such orders by the ECI, during the elections, are taken on the inputs it receives from various quarters, including its own exercise and suggestions and complaints received from the opposition parties and members of the society. This is done in order to maintain neutrality and ensure a free and fair election exercise. The ECI had announced the poll schedule for general elections, assembly elections and by-elections on 16 March at 3 pm.