Election Commission Suspends Six Officials Over Agra MLC Election Irregularities
Six officials, including four police officers, were suspended by the Election Commission due to irregularities in the Agra MLC elections.
Agra, October 27 (Daily Kiran) : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered the suspension of six officials, including four police personnel, following alleged irregularities during the Agra Division Teacher Constituency elections on October 23. This decision was announced on October 26.
According to a statement, the suspensions were based on an inquiry report submitted by the divisional commissioner and returning officer for the Agra Division. The ECI has also indicated that formal charges will be filed against the six officials found culpable, with disciplinary actions planned for an additional 21 election officials.
This action comes in light of the re-voting that occurred at polling stations 20, 21, and 26 on Monday, as part of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council’s biennial elections. The commission expressed serious concern over the failure of supervisory officials to ensure effective oversight at and around the polling stations. Such negligence in duty is deemed unacceptable.
Among those suspended from polling station 21, located in Room 1 of the Saiyaan Block office, are Agra’s sector magistrate and district Khadi and Village Industries officer O.P. Chak, crime branch sector police officer Inspector Harishran Singh, and sub-inspector Sandeep Kumar from the Etmadpur police station.
At polling station 26, the suspended officials include the sector magistrate and regional forest officer Vishal Rathore from Fatehabad, additional inspector Purushottam Pal, and sub-inspector Sumit Tyagi from the Ekta police station.
The ECI has instructed the Chief Electoral Officer to ensure that formal charges are filed against the implicated officials. Additionally, a review of the modifications must be submitted to the commission within ten days of the letter’s issue date.
Disciplinary proceedings are also set to commence against other polling officials and police personnel stationed at polling stations 21 and 26, involving five election officers and 16 police officers.
Voting took place on Friday across 11 MLC constituencies, which included five graduate and six teacher segments, with a total of 152 candidates contesting.
