In a significant prelude to the Lok Sabha elections of 2024, the Election Commission has issued orders for the removal of the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal and home secretaries of six states including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Additionally, the Secretary of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh has also been relieved of their duties.
The decision to replace the Bengal DGP appointed by Mamata Banerjee stems from previous instances where the DGP was removed from active election management duties during the 2016 Assembly elections in the state and the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The Election Commission has instructed all state governments to transfer officers involved in election-related work who have either served three years or are stationed in their home districts, or both.
According to reports from news agency ANI, Maharashtra had not fully complied with these directives, leading the Commission to express its dissatisfaction. The poll body has instructed the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra to transfer BMC commissioners and additional/Deputy commissioners, with a deadline to submit a report by 6 pm on the same day.
This decision has been made to uphold the principles of free and fair elections for the Lok Sabha elections of 2024. It follows closely after the announcement of the election schedule, which will unfold in seven phases beginning on April 19, with the final vote count scheduled for June 4.
