The Election Commission on Tuesday ordered the transfer of Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary (Home) Fateh Bahadur Singh on charges of dereliction of duty. Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan said the state Government had been asked to send a panel of three names for his replacement. He refused to elaborate on the charges against Singh,only saying that the move was prompted by complaints received from some political parties. Sources in the Commission said all three Opposition parties in the state had complained about Singhs partial conduct while discharging official duties. In a separate move,the Election Commission has ordered the removal of the Collector of Amreli in Gujarat,D G Jhalavadia. The Congress had petitioned the Commission against his partial conduct. Meanwhile,a host of politicians,including RJDs Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi,Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee chief D Srinivas,and Mumbai Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi,are under the poll panels scanner for alleged violation of the model code of conduct. Both Lalu and Srinivas have been accused of making hate speeches against Varun Gandhi. While Lalu had said that he would have crushed Varun under a roller for his anti-Muslim speeches,Srinivas had said that he would have got his hands severed. On the alleged distribution of cash by supporters of SP candidate from Mumbai North-West Abu Asim Azmi at a rally,Balakrishnan said the CD has been received and it would be examined by the poll panel. In case of Rabri Devi,who launched a vicious personal attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a public rally,the district administration has lodged an FIR and the poll panel has already received a CD of the speech.
