Capt Amarinder complains to EC against Kaushal’s efforts to influence voting in favour of SAD-BJP, asks for his transfer

5 Dariya News

Chandigarh 13-Jan-2017

Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh has asked the Election Commission to transfer the state chief secretary Sarvesh Kaushal, charging him with trying to influence the voting in favour of the ruling SAD-BJP combine by pressurizing the officers responsible for the conduct of the elections in Punjab.In a written complaint to Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Nasim Zaidi, Captain Amarinder said the chief secretary was sending unwritten missives to the district collectors to work for the candidates of the present ruling political dispensation.Urging the EC to replace Kaushal with some honest, impartial   and   unbiased   officer   in   the   larger   public   interest, Captain Amarinder said this would help build the  morale  of  the  common  man  and  save  them  from  the  apprehended present   political-bureaucratic  nexus   and   malfeasance.   It   will   also   allow   the subordinate  bureaucracy to  be  more  objective  and  fair  in  the  conduct  of elections, he added.

 Captain Amarinder said Kaushal was known   for   his   manipulative   skills   and   was cunning   to   the   core.   Though   once   hated   by   the   Akali   Dal, he  had   negotiated   his  present   placement   with   the   father-son   duo   ruling   the   state in exchange of toeing their line on every matter.He further said that the   subordinate   bureaucracy   was   feeling   absolutely   suffocated because of Kaushal’s threats to persecute them, adding that the EC could easily verify his past antecedents.Captain Amarinder reminded the EC of his earlier communications to the poll body on the need to depute neutral   and   professionally   competent   officers   to   conduct   elections   to   the   Punjab   State  Legislative  Assembly. He expressed the apprehension that the state government, through some of its committed and biased bureaucrats, will try to manipulate and tamper  the   poll process,  wherever  possible, and added that such a  thing  can  be  avoided  only  if  the  state  bureaucracy   is  headed  by  an  honest  and  impartial  officer.