After the releasing of dates for the state elections the election commission has stopped the transfers of 12 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and six Assam Police Service (APS) officers.
“The commission vide its press note dated 26th February 2021, had announced the schedule of General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry,” said the Election Commission in a news release.
“With this announcement, the provisions of Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect, which includes a total ban on the transfers/postings of all officers connected with the conduct of elections,” said the election commission in a press note.
“It has come to the notice of Commission that Govt. of Assam has, on 26th February 2021, ordered the transfer of 12 IPS and 6 APS officers. The Commission has therefore decided to keep the transfer/posting of these police officers in abeyance till further orders,” added the election commission.
As per the dates announced polls will be held in eight phases in the state of West Bengal, the longest ever election in Bengal. Assam will have elections in three phases whereas, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry in a single phase on a same day.
Both BJP and Congress are campaigning with their set goals as BJP is hoping to retain power in Assam and has challenged TMC in Bengal while, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are visiting place to place to campaign and form their base in the different constituencies.
The Congress has however lost its only ruling government in the Puducherry due to the dissenters within the party. With having a strong base in many northeast region, the BJP is likely to retain power in these state elections.
This is for the first time that Congress is not contesting alone in Assam as it has formed alliance with once arch-rival – Badaruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF, a smaller regional outfit – Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) and three Left parties.
Turning it into a three-way battle is an alliance of two regional parties born out of the anti-CAA protests in Assam – the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) formed by former members of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and other civil society groups and the Raijor Dol, formed by the supporters of noted activist Akhil Gogoi who is in jail for over a year on sedition charges over the anti-CAA protests.
