EC orders State to shift Nashik Collector Sounik

MUMBAI, Jan 14: The Election Commission today asked the Sena-BJP Government to transfer Nashik Collector Manoj Sounik within 24 hours."...

MUMBAI, Jan 14: The Election Commission today asked the Sena-BJP Government to transfer Nashik Collector Manoj Sounik within 24 hours.

"Though we have not received official communication from the Commission, Chief Electoral Officer D K Shankaran informed me about its directives. We will implement the orders," Chief Secretary P Subramanian told The Indian Express.

An IAS official of the 1987 batch, Sounik reportedly permitted BJP workers to display banners during the recent visit of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. "Instead of restraining them, the Collector permitted them to display banners," a senior official said.

Sounik is the third official in Maharashtra to face the wrath of the Commission. Incidentally, all the three were connected with programmes of Vajpayee.

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

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