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Handpicked by the Election Commission
to go after political goon squads in two of Bihar’s most troubled districts
ahead of the Assembly elections, the District Magistrates of Siwan and
Gopalganj were today shunted out on the orders of Governor Buta Singh.
Orders for the transfer of Siwan
DM C K Anil and Gopalganj DM K K Pathak to the Patna secretariat have raised
eyebrows because both went after RJD MPs Mohammed Shahabuddin and Sadhu
Yadav-one a protege of Laloo Prasad Yadav and the other his brother-in-law-in
the run-up to the elections.
Although their actions were not backed by officials and leaders in Patna, there was wide public appreciation of the fact that the two DMs had stood up to the RJD strongmen. In a state where voters are regularly terrorised during elections, the crackdown in Siwan and Gopalganj was a welcome change.
So when word spread today that the two officials had been transferred, the CPI(M-L), BJP and LJP were quick to criticise the Governor.
While the CPI(M-L) said “the removal of the DMs will now give a free hand to RJD criminals”, BJP leader Sushil Modi said that “Buta Singh is signalling a return of RJD rule. Being a powerful partner in the UPA, Laloo is controlling the office of the Governor.”
Buta Singh reacted angrily to Modi’s
charge: “Mujhe Rajyapal ki maryada maloom hai aur Modi se jyada hum Consitution
ke bare meinjaante hain (I know the sanctity of the post of the Governor
and happen to know more about the Constitution than Modi).”
Santosh Kumar Mall, vice-chairman
of Patna Regional Development Authority will take charge of Siwan while
Bihar State Electricity Board secretary Brajesh Mehrotra will be the new
Gopalganj DM.
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