Following the Election Commission of India's (ECI) directive, the West Bengal government appointed Vivek Sahay as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of the state on Monday, news agency ANI reported. This appointment came swiftly after the poll panel removed Rajeev Kumar from the position of DGP. Vivek Sahay, a 1988-batch IPS officer, previously served as the Director General and Commandant General (Home Guards).
Rajeev Kumar, who was appointed as the state DGP last December, has been reassigned to the Information and Technology department, a role unrelated to election duties, as an interim measure, according to sources cited by news agency PTI. This decision was made due to Kumar's previous removal from active election management-related duty during the 2016 assembly election in the state and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, highlighted sources within the poll panel, as per PTI.
According to a government notification shared by ANI, Sahay, currently serving as the Director General and Commandant General of Home Guards in West Bengal, will assume the position with immediate effect.
TMC Slams While Congress Welcomes Removal Of Rajeev Kumar As Bengal DGP
Criticism arose from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) following the removal of Rajeev Kumar, with TMC general secretary Kunal Ghosh alleging BJP's control over the Election Commission. Ghosh claimed that the move was driven by the BJP's fear of losing Lok Sabha seats in the state. He accused the BJP of attempting to misuse institutions, including the EC, to influence election outcomes.
"The BJP is trying to misuse all institutions, including the Election Commission. They are even meddling with the appointment of the election commissioners by changing the recruitment panel. The step taken today is a glaring example of the BJP's control over the EC," Ghosh said, as quoted by PTI.
"It doesn't matter if BJP changes even 100 such officers because the people of Bengal are with Mamata Banerjee," he stressed.
However, Ghosh asserted that the people of Bengal stand with Mamata Banerjee despite such actions.
In response to Kumar's removal, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Chowdhury expressed satisfaction, alleging Kumar's allegiance to the ruling TMC. Chowdhury claimed that Kumar had disregarded public grievances and worked only at the behest of the state government.
Speaking to ANI, Chowdhury welcomed the decision saying, "He (the DGP) was into the flattery of the party in power (TMC), especially the govt, so that the people know that he won't work without the orders of the govt. We have registered many complaints as he wasn't listening to the people's grievances even after being the DGP. It's a good decision and we are happy with this..."
ECI Decision To Remove Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar
The ECI's decision to remove DGP Rajeev Kumar was part of its efforts to ensure a level playing field in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The EC directed the removal of home secretaries of six states, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, along with the general administrative department secretaries of Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh, PTI reported. This decision was prompted by concerns about dual responsibilities potentially compromising the impartiality required during elections, PTI's report stated.
"The decision to shift the West Bengal DGP was taken as the officer was removed earlier too from active election management-related duty during the 2016 assembly election in the state and in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections," sources told PTI. ALSO READ | Election Commission Removes Bengal Police Chief, Home Secretaries Of Six States: Agencies
As an interim arrangement, the EC instructed the state chief secretary to assign Rajeev Kumar to a non-election-related role and appoint an officer junior to him as the DGP immediately. Additionally, the state was asked to submit a panel of three officers for consideration as the new DGP.
The EC's decision to transfer officials involved in election-related duties during parliamentary or assembly polls is routine, aimed at maintaining neutrality and impartiality during the electoral process. Such actions are taken to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure a fair electoral environment.