Election Commission removes Home Secretaries from six states, West Bengal DGP, and others to ensure neutrality

New Delhi: In a significant move ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday ordered the transfer of several key officials. This includes the Home Secretaries of six states – Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand – and the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal.

Sources close to the development revealed that the ECI also directed the removal of Greater Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, along with Additional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners. Additionally, the secretaries of the General Administration Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh were transferred.

The Election Commission reportedly expressed concern that some of these officers held dual charges, including positions within the Chief Minister's Office. This raised questions about their ability to remain impartial and neutral during the elections, particularly concerning law and order and security deployment.