Yet another observer of the Election Commission for Bihar has come under cloud for alleged caste bias.Returning Officer (RO) for Basantpur, Moti Ram Harijan, has accused Ashwini Kumar, a 1987 batch IAS officer from Maharashtra, observer for Siwan district, of passing a casteist remark at him.The Returning Officer complained against Kumar to EC observer for Bihar KJ Rao at a review meeting held on Monday. The meeting was attended by all the Returning Officers, besides Siwan DM Santosh Mal and Saran Commissioner Sudheer Kumar.Sources said Rao took the matter seriously and promised immediate action. He called up the Chief Election Commissioner while the meeting was on. No action has followed so far.Ashwini Kumar told Express the complaint was the result of a ‘‘communication gap’’ and he had explained his position to the EC. ‘‘Only the commission can say anything more on this.’’ K J Rao refused to comment.The EC had recalled Gujarat cadre IAS officer Sanjay Nandan after complaints of caste bias. He was observer for Patna district. Sources said earlier too, Ram had complained about Kumar’s behaviour to the Siwan DM.Siwan DM Santosh Mal refused comment while Saran Commissioner Sudheer Kumar said, ‘‘Only the EC is the competent authority to comment on this.’’
