EC directs Jharkhand govt to remove acting DGP with immediate effect ahead of assembly elections, say sources

The Election Commission has asked the government to replace acting DGP Anurag Gupta with the senior most DGP level official available in the cadre.

Ahead of the assembly elections in Jharkhand, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday directed the state government to remove Anurag Gupta from the position of Acting Director General of Police (DGP) with immediate effect, the sources said.

As per sources, the EC has also directed the state government to replace Gupta with a senior most official of the DGP level in the cadre. The decision to remove Gupta was taken based on a history of complaints and action taken by the commission against him during previous elections, the sources said.

Elections in Jharkhand

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, at a press conference, said that the polls in Jharkhand will be held on November 13 and 20. The results will be declared on November 23. Jharkhand has 81 Assembly constituencies.

Phase 1: Kodarma, Barkatha, Barhi, Barkagaon, Hazaribagh, Simaria (SC), Chatra (SC), Baharagora, Ghatsila (ST), Potka (ST), Jugsalai (SC), Jamshedpur East, Jamshedpur West, Ichagarh, Seraikella (ST), Chaibasa (ST), Majhgaon (ST), Jaganathpur (ST), Manoharpur (ST), Chakradharpur (ST), Kharsawan (ST), Tamar (ST), Torpa (ST), Khunti (ST), Ranchi, Hatia, Kanke (SC), Mandar (ST), Sisai (ST), Gumla (ST), Bishunpur (ST), Simdega (ST), Kolebira (ST), Lohardaga (ST), Manika (ST), Latehar (SC), Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur (SC), Hussainabad, Garhwa, Bhawanathpur.

Phase 2: Rajmahal, Borio (ST), Barhait (ST), Litipara (ST), Pakaur, Maheshpur (ST), Sikaripara (ST), Nala, Jamtara, Dumka (ST), Jama (ST), Jarmundi, Madhupur, Sarath, Deoghar (SC), Poreyahat, Godda, Mahagama, Ramgarh, Mandu, Dhanwar, Bagodar, Jamua (SC), Gandey, Giridih, Dumri, Gomia, Bermo, Bokaro, Chandankiyari (SC), Sindri, Nirsa, Dhanbad, Jharia, Tundi, Baghmara, Silli, Khijri (ST).

Nomination started for Phase 1

Meanwhile, the filing of nomination papers for the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections began on Friday for 43 constituencies scheduled to go to polls on November 13. Election officials announced that candidates can submit their papers through October 25, with entries accepted between 11 am and 3 pm daily.