ECI directs to transfer Jalandhar DC
Chandigarh: Election Commission of India (ECI), on the basis of a complaint, has directed to transfer Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal, while demanding a panel of three officers to be appointed as his replacement. The letter, issued by ECI in this regard, specified that he should be transferred from present posting to some other place – not in his home district. ECI has also asked the state to ensure that the officer should be transferred out of the district and is not posted within the same parliamentary constituency.
On ECI directives, HP Govt relieves Rakesh Kanwar from GAD
Shimla: On the ECI directives, the Himachal Pradesh Government on Tuesday relieved 2007-batch IAS officer Rakesh Kanwar from his duties as Secretary of General Administration Department (GAD). The decision comes a day after the government withdrew the charges of Home and Vigilance from a 2002-batch IAS officer Abhishek Jain, also on ECI directives. The transfer order was issued by Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena. Notably, a 1997-batch IAS officer Onkar Chand Sharma, currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue), has been entrusted with the additional responsibility of overseeing the Home and Vigilance departments.
Hry CEO asks candidates, party leaders to adhere to MCC
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Electoral officer Anurag Agarwal on Tuesday said that with the announcement of the general elections of Lok Sabha - 2024 by the Election Commission of India on March 16, the Model Code of Conduct came into force, and it is mandatory for the candidates contesting the elections and political parties to adhere to it. Agarwal, addressing a meeting of representatives of recognized national and state political parties, said that as soon as a candidate submits their nomination papers, calculation of their election expenses will begin, and candidates will have to provide a separate account statement. The security deposit for candidates of general category will be Rs 25,000, and for candidates of SC, it will be Rs 12,500, he said.
ECI directs to transfer Ropar Range, Border Range police officers
Chandigarh: ECI has directed the Punjab poll panel to transfer the Additional DGP of Ropar Range Jaskaran Singh, and DIG of Border Range Narinder Bhargav. The two officers have also been asked to be transferred out of the district and not posted within the same parliamentary constituency. Notably, both officers are set to retire in April and June respectively. The Commission has demanded panels of three names for both postings, from whom new posting would be done.
HP BJP files complaint against Cong Govt for poll violation
Himachal Pradesh BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday met the state Chief Electoral Officer along with other party MLAs and urged him to take cognizance of a complaint about alleged violation of the model code of conduct by the Congress Government and initiate appropriate action. Lashing out at Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Thakur alleged that the Congress made “false promises to befool women”. He said, “The government made no provision in the budget for giving Rs 1,500 per month to women in the age group of 18 to 59, but CM still announced at a press conference that eligible women would start getting Rs 1500 per month from April, knowing well that code of conduct would come into force and even the first instalment would not be disbursed.”
Unemployment at its peak in Country, Hry Due to Govt’s Policies: Selja
Chandigarh: All India Congress Committee’s general secretary and Haryana Congress’ former president Kumari Selja on Tuesday alleged that the state’s BJP government has changed its leader but not its intentions and policies. “The situation remains the same as before. Unemployment is at its peak, and today, another unemployed person has committed suicide, which is shameful for the government and evidence of its failure,” she said. Selja said that in this election, the public will teach BJP a lesson. “What did the public gain from BJP's new dramas? The youth didn't get employment, the public didn't get good governance or a crime-free state. Yet, BJP continues its theatrics,” she added.
CM first ordered action against Chabbewal but now stopped registering criminal case: Majithia
Chandigarh: Exposing how Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann first ordered action against Chabbewal MLA Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal for defrauding the poor but had now stopped registration of a criminal case against him after the latter joined AAP, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Tuesday demanded a CBI probe into the entire incident. The Chief Minister’s role should be investigated in not going ahead with a criminal case against Chabbewal despite the fact that the latter had been indicted on several counts. Showing the probe report against Chabbewal, Majithia accused Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann of adopting “double standards”. Asserting that Chabbewal was guilty of not one but several crimes and faced a potential 10-year jail term, Majithia said: “Congress leader forged the letter-head of BDPO and issued letters to 4600 poor persons granting them sums between Rs 10,000 to Rs 35,000 each under Punjab Nirman Programme for repair of roofs of their houses on the eve of the previous assembly elections in 2022.”
