EC removes Bengal returning officer, 2 others

By Team Newsable | First Published Mar 31, 2021, 10:35 AM IST

Haldia SDPO Varun Vaidya was removed by the Election Commission 24 hours before the second phase of voting. The Circle Inspector (CI) of Mahishadal and the Returning Officer of Baliganj Assembly constituency have also been removed.

On Saturday (March 27), the day of the first phase of elections, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari lodged a complaint with the commission against several policemen in Haldia and Nandigram. He alleged that the policemen had helped the Trinamool Congress to manipulate the vote.

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In particular, the BJP has lodged a complaint against Varun Vaidya, SDPO of Haldia, at the office of the state's chief electoral officer. The saffron camp had alleged that Varun was very close to the ruling party.

In this situation, the commission removed Varun from the post of SDPO of Haldia 24 hours before the second round of voting. He has been strictly instructed not to be employed in any election-related work. Uttam Mitra has got a new responsibility.

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The commission has removed Bichitra Bikash Roy, a circle inspector of Mahishadal, before the second phase of voting. Instead, Shirshendu Das has been given the responsibility of circle inspector of Mahishadal who was working as an inspector of Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench.

Arindam Mani, returning officer of Ballygunge assembly constituency, has also been removed. He has been working in the same office for more than 10 years. The commission has instructed the state's chief electoral officer to send Arindam to a post where there is no election-related work. Besides, the commission has sent a list of three officers for the new returning officer at Baliganj center.

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