AP Panchayat polls: SEC seeks removal of senior IAS officer

AMARAVATI: After censuring two senior IAS officers for their alleged dereliction in discharging duties, the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission has now sought the removal of Praveen Prakash, principal secretary, general administration dept (political) from poll duties.

In a letter written to chief secretary Adityanath Das, SEC N Ramesh Kumar alleged Prakash was primarily responsible for scuttling a video conference convened by the EC with Collectors and SPs on Jan 23 on poll preparedness. "The SEC invokes its plenary powers under Article 243 read with Article 324 to transfer Praveen Prakash, IAS, with a view to ensure free and fair elections. He is barred during the elections to have interaction with DCs and SPs and any other officers directly or indirectly dealing with matters relating to elections,” it said.