Big action of Election Commission - Home secretaries of 6 states removed, DGP of Bengal also removed

Lok Sabha Elections: Information has come out quoting sources that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued orders to remove the Home Secretary in six states - Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Besides, the Secretary of General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh has also been removed. The Election Commission has also taken necessary action to remove the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal. The Election Commission has also removed Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal and additional commissioners and deputy commissioners. The Commission has also removed Secretary GAD Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh, who was holding charge in the respective CM office.

Why were the officers removed?

The officers who have been removed in these seven states had dual charges in the office of the Chief Minister in the respective states, which could also compromise the fairness required during the electoral process, especially the deployment of law and order security forces. The Election Commission had also removed the DGP of West Bengal from active election duty during the state assembly elections in 2016 and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Maharashtra had not followed the instructions of the Election Commission regarding some Municipal Commissioners and some Additional/Deputy Municipal Commissioners, which were stated at the time of announcement of Lok Sabha election dates on March 16.

Voting will be held in 7 phases across the country

It is noteworthy that the bugle of Lok Sabha elections 2024 has been sounded across the country. Elections will be held in 7 phases across the country and the results will be declared on June 4. By releasing the election schedule on March 16, Election Commission Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had made a special appeal to the voters and urged them to vote as much as possible. The election process will continue for 43 days across the country. The first phase of voting will be held on April 19, while the second phase will be held on April 26, third phase on May 7, fourth phase on May 13, fifth phase on May 20, sixth phase on May 25 and seventh phase on June 1.