The Election Commission of India has transferred several non-cadre IPS and IAS officers posted in the states of Gujarat, West Bengal, Punjab and Odisha, in a bid to maintain a “level playing field” in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This decision was following a meeting convened by the CEC Rajiv Kumar and newly appointed Election Commissioners, Mr. Gyanesh Kumar and Mr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
Among the transferees are: the SPs of Chhota Udaipur and Ahmedabad Rural in Gujarat. SSPs of Pathankot, Fazilka, Jalandhar Rural and Makerkotla in Punjab. DM of Dhenkanal and SP of Deogarh and Cuttack (Rural) in Odisha. Finally, DMs of Purba Medinipur, Jhargram, Purba Bardhaman and Birbhum in West Bengal. The Commission transferred Bathinda SSP, Mr. Harmanbir Singh Gill (brother of Congress MP Jasbir Dimpa) and Sonitpur SP for their kinship with regional politicians.
Mr. Himanshu Agarwal (2014 batch IAS) and Mr. Vishesh Sarangal (2013 batch IAS )have been appointed the new DCs of Jalandhar and Gurdaspur, respectively. While, Mr. Daljinder Singh, SSP of Pathankot, Mr. Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar, SSP of Jalandhar Rural, and Mr. Harkamalpreet Singh Khak, SSP of Makerkotla, have been transferred.