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The selection of 32 senior officials,including those from the IAS cadre,as election observers by the state election commission (SEC) for the local body elections to be held on December 8 and 23 has triggered a tug of war between the state government and SEC.
As many as 28 of these are IAS officers who head various departments in the state government. In a letter to the SEC,the general administration department (GAD),which handles the IAS officials working,says the decision was taken unilaterally without consulting the department. The department says since the number of IAS officials available with the government is insufficient,these officials cannot be spared. It also suggests officers of the rank of additional collector be appointed for the job.
The letter adds that since the winter session of the state legislature is due to be held from December 18,the officers responsible for the departments cannot be spared.
It states that some IAS officials have already been selected by the Election Commission to got as observers to other states for assembly elections there. Citing these reasons,the state government has informed the SEC that the officials cannot be made available.
Meanwhile,officers who have been issued the letters through the SEC are confused over the issue.
State election commissioner Neela Satyanarayan said the commission did not require the officers to be posted as observers but wanted them as guardian secretaries to ensure that arrangements are made for smooth polling.
We will clarify the matter on Monday. We are not seeking them as observers during the election period. All we want is that as guardian secretaries of the districts,they should go there once before the election period and co-ordinate with various departments for smooth rolling out of the elections. They are not required to go and camp there,nor do we need them to be present during polling, said Satyanarayan.
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