West Bengal Police Chief Shunted, Home Secretaries Removed By EC In THESE 6 States

Reports citing sources said the Election commission has ordered the removal of home secretaries in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered the removal of West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) as well as Home Secretaries in six states.

Reports citing sources said the Election commission has ordered the removal of home secretaries in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The EC has also also taken the necessary action to remove the West Bengal Police chief, they said, adding that respective Secretaries of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have also been removed on the panel’s orders.

Election Commission Orders Removal Of West Bengal DGP

According to an official letter, the Election Commision has directed that West Bengal DGP, Rajeev Kumar, must be been relieved of his current posting with immediate effect and shifted to a “non-election related post”.

It further said that a new police chief will be chosen by a panel of three senior officers and will be appointed by 5 PM today.

Election Commission of India Order Copy

Glaring example of BJP’s ‘control’ over EC: TMC

Meanwhile, reacting to the development, West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged the transfers are a glaring example of BJP’s “control” of country’s institutions, including the Election Commision.

“We have seen that the BJP is trying its best to grab different organisations including ECI. They have taken over the control of central agencies and different organisations,” TMC leader Kunal Ghosh told reporters at a press conference.

“In this case also, after the announcement of Lok Sabha elections, what we saw today is the reflection of BJP. It is trying its best to grab and monitor the functioning of these kinds of organisations, including EC,” Ghosh alleged.

The TMC leader alleged that the BJP is trying to misuse all institutions, including the Election Commission.

“They are even meddling with the appointment of the election commissioners by changing the recruitment panel. The step taken today is a glaring example of the BJP’s control over the EC,” Ghosh said.

The move come days after the poll authority announced the dates and full schedule of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 which will conducted in 7 Phases over a period of nearly 2 months.

Votes will be counted on June 4, 2024 and results announced on the same day.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to India.com for more updates.