The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued orders for the transfer of several senior police and administrative officials in the five states scheduled for upcoming polls next month. This decision was made due to their “unsatisfactory or complacent” performance.
The directive emerged during a review meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, who had previously issued explicit instructions to officials, emphasizing the need to cease the movement and distribution of liquor, cash, drugs, and freebies to ensure elections that are free, fair, and devoid of inducements.
The officials affected by these transfers included nine District Electoral Officers (DEOs) and District Magistrates (DMs), along with 25 Commissioners of Police (CPs), Superintendents of Police (SPs), and Additional SPs.
The Election Commission conducted an exhaustive review of sensitive routes and areas during this process, with CEC Kumar stressing the importance of synchronized efforts by enforcement agencies through joint operations.
The reshuffling involved the transfer of four DEOs/DMs in Telangana (Ranga Reddy, Medchal Malkajgiri, Yadadri Bhuvangiri, Nirmal), two DEOs/DMs in Madhya Pradesh (Ratlam, Khargone), and one DEO/DM in Rajasthan (Alwar). Additionally, two DEOs/DMs in Chhattisgarh (Raigarh & Bilaspur) were also reassigned.
Among the 25 CPs/SPs/Additional SPs who were transferred, they included SPs (non-cadre police officers) from Telangana, three Commissioners of Police from Telangana (Warangal, Hyderabad, and Nizamabad), two from Madhya Pradesh (Jabalpur, Bhind), three SPs (Korba, Rajnandgaon, Durg), and two Additional SPs from Chhattisgarh (Bilaspur & Durg), two from Mizoram (Champhai & Saiha), and three from Rajasthan (Hanumangarh, Churu, Bhiwadi).
These changes come in the lead-up to assembly elections scheduled in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana in November, with the results slated to be declared on December 3.
