New Delhi: The Election Commission has removed an IAS officer Abhishek Singh from Uttar Pradesh from the post of general observer for the Gujarat Assembly elections for allegedly resorting to a publicity stunt by posting pictures related to his official work on the social media platform Instagram. Sources gave this information on Friday.
In a strongly worded letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Gujarat on Friday, the commission said the 2011 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer took to the social media platform Instagram to share his appointment as a general observer. He used and used his official position for ‘Publicity Stunt’.
Sources said that the commission also shared the photographs posted by the said officer with the CEO. Quoting the letter, sources said that the commission took the matter “very seriously” and relieved him from the role of the general observer with immediate effect. The commission has barred that officer from being entrusted with any election-related responsibility till further orders.
According to sources, Abhishek Singh has also been directed to leave the constituency where he was entrusted with the responsibility. The officer has been asked to report to his nodal officer in his parent cadre. All the facilities given to this officer as a supervisor have also been withdrawn. Sources said that in place of the said officer, another IAS officer has been given additional charge of the concerned assembly constituency.
