Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed K K Sharma, retired BSF director general and a 1982-batch officer of the Indian Police Service, as the Special Central Police Observer for Bengal and Jharkhand on Thursday. He has been replaced by Vivek Dubey, a 1981-batch officer of the Indian Police Service.
The Special Central Police Observers oversee the deployment of the Central Forces during elections and other security-related issues.
Sharma will be the Special Police Observer for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. However, no explanation has been given by the ECI over Sharma's transfer.
Earlier, the Trinamool Congress wrote a letter to the ECI seeking its intervention over the appointment of Sharma for his alleged connection with the RSS.
While addressing the media to release the election manifesto of the TMC, party chief Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday: "I have respect for the Election Commission of India but how could they send an officer who is so close to the RSS. Such actions force people to question the integrity of the ECI." Banerjee showed a photograph of Sharma in uniform attending a meeting of the RSS to the mediapersons as well." On Thursday, Dubey replaced Sharma.
Trinamool Congress has also sent a letter to the ECI against R K Mitra, retired joint secretary of the Home Ministry for trying to manipulate the Central Forces and use them to canvas for the BJP.
Mitra's wife is contesting with a BJP ticket in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. "Though he is a retired officer of the Home Ministry but he continues to serve the department on a contractual basis and is involved in the deployment of the Central Forces," Banerjee had said on Wednesday.