The Election Commission of India has taken significant steps toward ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections by issuing orders for the removal of key officials in several states. These include the home secretaries in six states—Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand—who oversee their respective Chief Minister’s Offices.
Furthermore, the Director General of Police in West Bengal and other top bureaucrats have also been directed to step down from their positions. Among those affected are the Secretary of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh, as well as officials such as BrihanMumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, and Additional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners.
These removals come ahead of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to take place in seven phases starting from April 19, with the results slated for announcement on June 4. With the issuance of these orders, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into effect, imposing restrictions on the government from making policy announcements among other things.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has urged all political parties and their leaders to adhere strictly to the MCC, which outlines a set of guidelines and restrictions for parties and candidates in the lead-up to elections. The MCC covers various aspects including speeches, polling day procedures, the content of election manifestos, and general conduct to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
