Election Commission of India to ask Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary explanation on transfers

Amaravati: In connection with the issuing multiple Government Orders on transfers of IPS officers, the Election Commission of India is reportedly going to ask explanation from the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh.

According to the sources, the CS Anil Chandra Punetha indulged in violation of Code of Conduct by not obeying the orders of ECI on a transfer of Intelligence chief AB Venkateswara Rao. Following the court directions, the state government has transferred AB Venkateswara Rao on Friday.

It is worth to mention here that, following the allegations raised by YSRCP against certain IAS and IPS officials and other government functionaries engaged in the election duties, the ECI directed the state government to transfer three IPS officials with immediate effect on March 26. As soon as the state government received the orders from the ECI, Anil Chandra Punetha transferred the three IPS officials including AB Venkateswara Rao, Rahul Dev Sharma, SP of Kadapa and A Venkata Ratnam, SP of Srikakulam. Within the next twelve hours, amending the earlier orders, the state government transferred only two SPs and filed a case against the ECI in the High Court. The HC refused to comment on the action of ECI in this case, on Friday, then the state government transferred Venkateswara Rao.

Since the transfers of the selected three IPS officials got political colour and became controversial as the TDP expressed concerns over the credibility of ECI, it drew public attention.

The TDP has been alleging that the BJP has been influencing the ECI to ensure political benefit to their B-team member YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh.