Priyanka's campaign...

EC transfers 6 UP officials
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 13 2012: The Election Commission (EC) has transferred six officials posted in Rae Bareli and Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar (Amethi).

Though the EC did not specify the reason behind the decision, the transfers are believed to have been made following complaints registered by the Congress party.

District magistrate (DM) of Rae Bareli Amrita Soni has been transferred to Sitapur.

Sitapur DM Ajay Kumar Shukla has been posted in the same capacity to Rae Bareli.

Five other officials sub divisional magistrate (SDM), Dalmau Rae Bareli, BL Saroj, inspector Rae Bareli Sadar, Sudhakar Singh, additional district magistrate (ADM) Amethi, ML Pandey, station officer of Mohanganj Amethi, Anil Kumar Shahi and inspector Amethi Kotwari, Anand Bajpaihave also been shifted to non-election duties.

These transfers come after a delegation of the Congress leaders lodged a complaint with the EC on Saturday that the officers in the district administration in the Gandhi stronghold of Rae Bareli and Amethi were harassing the Congress workers at the behest of the ruling BSP.

The delegation also complained that the district administration was not granting timely permi-ssions to the Congress' meetings, particularly those of Priyanka.

The Congress had also urged the EC to debar the BSP state president and minister in the Mayawati government Swami Prasad Maurya visiting Rae Bareli and Amethi.

Maurya's son is contesting election from Unchahar in Rae Bareli.

Significantly, the complaint was lodged after an officer in Rae Bareli stopped mobike rally led by Robert Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi's husband, in support of the Congress candidates in the assembly election.

Pawan Sen, the IAS officer who was posted in Rae Bareli as a poll observer and had stopped Vadra's rally, was also transferred by the EC on February 6.However, the EC had to put Sen's trasfer on hold following a controversy over the decision.

Later, on February 11, the Congress lodged a complaint with the EC in Delhi naming officials in Rae Bareli and Amethi who were obstructing and harassing the party workers.

Deputy inspector general of police, Meerut, Prem Prakash, considered being close to chief minister Mayawati's brother, two officials of Bhadohi and a police officer each from Gautambudhnagar and Jaunpur have also been transferred.

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