How Bihar Governor was snubbed

M. Kumar, secretary to the Governor, wrote to the Chief Secretary: 8220;In Samastipur district, as against the original identification of 440 duplicate boxes, the DEO has reported later that only eight are duplicate.8221;

The letter added: 8220;In this background, serious apprehensions are being raised regarding fairness of the election process8230;.The scope for suspicion is considerably aroused in the case of Samastipur and inall fairness, it may warrant a change of the DEO of Samastipur at this juncture.8221;

The Chief Secretary, S.N. Biswas, directed the Governor8217;s desire to the Election Commission.

Sayan Chatterjee, Deputy Election Commissioner, sent a strong missive the very next day. 8220;His Excellency, the governor has expressed certain observations about the role of the DEO, Samastipur. We are separately asking the Chief Electoral Officer to make a personal inquiry into the issue of duplicate ballot boxes in Samastipur. However, once the elections are due and the Model Code of Conduct is in force, any change in the DEO can take place only on the directions of the EC.8221;