Causing a pre-poll embarrassment to Capt Amarinder Singh and the Congress party in Punjab, the Election Commission has ordered the transfer of Director-General of Police S.S. Virk, with Punjab Police Academy Director R.S. Gill taking his place.It was “Virk’s credibility” that was “in question” that forced the EC to take the decision late last night. Sources in the EC said the Punjab Chief Secretary was earlier asked to suggest three names of the officers who could replace Virk.The two other names forwarded to the EC were Director of Vigilance Bureau Mohammed Izhar Alam and DGP Home Guards K.K. Attri, they said.Interestingly, the EC earlier this month rejected Shiromani Akali Dal’s demand to transfer Virk. The Akalis accused Virk of acting as “Congress poll agent”. In a letter to the EC raising doubts about Virk’s credibility to conduct fair polls in Punjab, Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal had alleged that Punjab Chief Minister had been giving undue financial favours to Virk and his brother for a mega project — Rs 250 crore concessions was granted to the project just prior to the poll announcement.The EC sources admitted that Virk’s actions and movements “were being closely watched by the Commission” ever since the complaint was raised. “The Commission does not take action on the basis of allegations or a few complaints, it always verifies through its own channels before action is taken,’’ the EC sources said.In fact, the Election Commission has appointed two observers for each Assembly constituency. While one will look after election expenditure, the other will monitor the model code of conduct and election process. Punjab Chief Minister, however, brushed aside the allegations, saying it would not affect the Congress poll prospect.
