ECI Removes Himachal Home Secretary

Shimla: In a significant development ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled to commence on April 19, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued directives for the removal of the Himachal Pradesh Home Secretary, along with counterparts from five other states. Additionally, the Commission has instructed the removal of secretaries of the General Administrative Departments (GADs) in Himachal Pradesh. While the poll panel officials refrained from immediate elaboration on the rationale behind this decision, sources close to the matter suggested that the move aims to “ensure level playing fields” and “maintain the integrity of the poll process”. Furthermore, the Commission has directed all state governments to transfer officers involved in election-related duties, especially those who have served three years or are stationed in their respective home districts.

Sukhbir asks all 5 AAP ministers contesting polls to resign immediately

Bathinda: SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday demanded all five AAP Ministers, contesting the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, to resign from their ministries immediately in the interest of public welfare. Sukhbir, addressing gathering while covering Bhucho Mandi and Bathinda Urban assembly constituencies as part of SAD’s ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’, said: “The state cannot afford paralysis in governance due to absence of these ministers from their offices for the next two and a half months. Also as key ministries including Agriculture, Health and Transport are involved the Ministers – Dr Balbir Singh, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Laljit Singh Bhullar – should resign from their posts immediately.”

HP Cong appoints election in-charges for all 4 LS seats

Shimla: Congress party in Himachal Pradesh on Monday appointed its election in-charges for all four parliamentary constituencies in the State. Elections to the four Lok Sabha seats and bypolls to the six assembly constituencies, that fell vacant with the disqualification of six rebel Congress MLAs, will be held on June 1. The state Congress president and sitting MP from Mandi Pratibha Singh has appointed Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh the election in-charge in Mandi, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri in Hamirpur, Education Minister Rohit Thakur in Shimla, and Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar in Kangra. Congress also appointed Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan as in-charge of publicity and publication; while Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi is in-charge of administration and coordination.

Extensive campaign by HP Excise Dept to curb illicit liquor trade

Shimla: To ensure free and fair elections in Himachal Pradesh, a comprehensive campaign has been launched by the State Taxes and Excise Department to control illicit liquor trade and offering free gifts to woo voters. Department has set up 22 interstate checkpoints and 59 mobile teams have also been deployed in all the districts. Teams have made arrangements to take strict action against people involved in illegal liquor trade in border areas and illegal trading routes within the state. The state Taxes and Excise Commissioner Dr Yunus said that action against illegal liquor was being taken across the State. So far, in this financial year, 16,718 liters of illegal liquor has been seized in various districts and 1,15,666 liters of liquor (lahan) has been destroyed as per provisions of Himachal Pradesh Excise Act, 2011.

Killing of a cop a day after poll announcement shows total collapse of law and order: Bajwa

Chandigarh: After a police constable was killed in a village near Mukerian, the Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday rebuked the Punjab Government’s claim of being fully geared up to ensure free and fair elections in the state. “A day after election commission announced poll schedule, a Punjab Police Constable Amritpal Singh was killed in broad daylight in Mansoorpur village of Mukerian sub-division on Sunday by a petty gangster Sukhwinder Singh. The incident exposed AAP government's false claims about controlling the crime in the state,” he added. Senior Congress leader said that despite raising the issue of growing gun crime and gangsterism in the state umpteen times, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds Home Portfolio, failed miserably to show sincerity on the issue.

Raghav Chadha's Absence: Jakhar Asks Mann to Come Clean on Suspense

Chandigarh: Taking a swipe at the seemingly “forced absence” of Raghav Chadha at this critical juncture just ahead for Lok Sabha polls, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Monday asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to come clean on reasons behind internal rift and rebellion within the party. “Raghav ji has been the apple of Kejriwal’s eye so much so that he has been acting as the Super CM in Punjab demeaning elected CM Bhagwant Mann; and now his removal from the scene with parliamentary polls already announced raises genuine doubts about rumblings within AAP,” he said, adding, “If there is some health issue, I wish Raghav ji speedy recovery.”