In a major setback to Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, just three weeks ahead of elections, the Election Commission on Tuesday transferred Andhra Pradesh intelligence chief P Sitaramanjaneyulu and Vijayawada police Commissioner Kanthi Rana Tata with immediate effect.
AP Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena has directed the Chief Secretary of the AP Government to immediately relieve them from their duties and keep them away from any election- related duties.
“The Commission has ordered transfer of the following officer with immediate effect – P Sitaramanjaneyulu, DGP, Intelligence,” said the EC in an order. Issuing similar orders for Rana, the Commission directed both the transferred officers to hand over charge to the officer immediately below them in rank.
Further, the Commission ordered that the transferred officers should not be assigned any election duty until the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls end in the southern state.
TDP and other opposition parties have been making complaints against these two police officers alleging their collusion with the ruling party and playing a key role in harassing opposition leaders and activists.
According to sources, the Election Commission has taken serious action against the stone pelting on Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy incident in Vijayawada and expressed concern over politicization of the incident. It has reportedly found fault with the security system to the chief minister and wondered about suspension of power supply en-route chief minister’s tour.
After the attack on CM Jagan, the EC expressed its displeasure at the manner of dealing with it by the police. It is reported that the ECI felt that the police had failed to take security precautions in this incident. Moreover, it has given scope to politicize the entire incident.
Apart from this, there are allegations that he is acting in favor of the ruling party. It is reported that the failure to take security measures at the public meeting attended by the Prime Minister Modi at Chilakaluripet last month was the main reason behind the axe on the intelligence chief.
Along with BJP, TDP and Jana Sena have complained to the EC regarding this matter. Apart from that, it is believed that the NDA alliance has made a series of complaints to the Central Election Commission that if he continues as the intelligence chief, there will be no chance of a transparent general election.
