EC transfers 17 "partisan" officials

The state government has confirmed that the 16 officials have been moved out of the district again in view of the assembly elections, he said.

In another order, the Commission asked Madhya Pradesh chief secretary to immediately transfer Sabhajit Yadav, sub-divisional officer, Sironj in Vidisha district following complaints alleging partisan behaviour on his part, particularly, during polls.

Noting that the compliance report should reach it by October 21, the poll panel said Yadavshould be given an assignment “which is in no way related to elections”.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill has directed Delhi police commissioner V N Singh not to assign supervision work in Karol Bagh in central district to additional commissioner Muktesh Chander and in Najafgarh in south-west district to deputy commissioner of police Pradeep Bhardwaj as their permanent homes were located in these areas.

In another significant stricture, the EC today barred Madhya Pradesh ministers from coordinating activities of different departments in districts assigned to them as their visits “are bound to be construed by other parties as essentially disguised electioneering”.

Another EC directive to the Rajasthan government asked ministers not to avail of official cars to visit different districts to supervise relief works. The commission issued these directives in the wake of clarifications sought by the states.

The Commission observed in explanation to doubts raised by these states “since thecurrent focus of all ministers is surely on elections, their ostensible district supervision visits are bound to be construed by other parties as essentially disguised electioneering”.

A minister undertaking tours of districts may be construed as electioneering rather than supervision of relief works when his district party workers get a chance to query and comment on poll officials including returning officers, it added.

While the model code of conduct is in force in Delhi, MP, Rajasthan and Mizoram where elections are scheduled for November 25, the respective poll notifications will be issued on October 30.