Taking cognizance of the Opposition parties? complaints against the large-scale transfer of senior police officers by the Modi regime in Gujarat, the Election Commission (EC) on Monday ordered the shifting of some of senior civil and police officers, including the state DGP, from all electoral duties.
Principal Opposition party in the state, the Congress and several other organisations had complained to chief election commissioner N Gopala Swamy who visited Gujarat last week that the transfers could affect the electioneering in the state, where Assembly elections are scheduled in mid-December.
Earlier during Punjab and Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections also the EC had recommended transfer and shifting of senior IPS and IAS officials, inviting the wrath of the then ruling parties in those states. Those officials were perceived to be close to the ruling establishment at of the erstwhile Congress and SP governments in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh respectively.
The EC had also instructed the Gujarat chief secretary that all election-related officials including police officials who have completed three years in a district during the last four years should be transferred out of that district. The state government had also been asked to transfer all those officers against whom the poll panel had recommended disciplinary action earlier.