In a significant move, the Election Commission has relieved three election observers of their duties due to alleged “misconduct” and a breach of the code of ethics. The action was directed towards two general observers assigned to Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and an expenditure observer posted in Mizoram.
IAS officer Laltinkhuma Franklin, responsible for oversight in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewara assembly constituency, has been replaced by Anurag Patel, another seasoned IAS officer, as the new general observer.
In Madhya Pradesh’s Seoni Malwa and Hoshangabad assembly constituencies, IAS officer R Girish will assume the role of general observer, taking over from IAS officer Udaya Narayan Das.
Meanwhile, IRS officer Gaurav Awasthi, the expenditure observer in Lunglei district, Mizoram, faced removal for alleged misconduct.
The Election Commission cited a violation of the observers’ code of ethics as the primary reason for their removal, mandating a “recordable caution” in their service books.
Elections in Mizoram have already taken place on November 7, with Chhattisgarh witnessing the first-phase polling on the same day. The second-phase polling for the remaining 70 seats in Chhattisgarh and the elections for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly are scheduled for November 17.
By PTI
