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Fearing partisanship, BJP seeks removal of chief secretary ahead of state polls
The memorandum reads that Usha Sharma, a 1985 batch IAS officer in Rajasthan cadre and current chief secretary of the state, is working as a representative of the Ashok Gehlot government and demanded she should be removed from the post with immediate effect in the elections
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday sought the removal of Rajasthan chief secretary Usha Sharma, saying she had been given an extension by the Congress government and she could misuse her post to favour the Congress party in the upcoming assembly election.
A delegation led by Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore met Chief Electoral Officer of the Election Department Praveen Gupta on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum saying that the officer with extension cannot hold his post under the model code of conduct.
Other delegations who were present comprised election management committee convenor Narayan Pancharia, state vice president Shravan Singh Bagdi, co-convenor of the committee Rajendra Shekhawat and BJP spokesperson Laxmikant Bharadwaj.
The memorandum reads that Usha Sharma, a 1985 batch IAS officer in Rajasthan cadre and current chief secretary of the state, is working as a representative of the Ashok Gehlot government and demanded she should be removed from the post with immediate effect in the elections.
The state will go to polls on November 25, and the counting will take place on December 3. Both parties have each released two lists of their candidates.
Rathore said that the election commission has issued directions that government officials whose services have been extended, cannot be associated with any election-related work.
Rathore while talking to the media later said that Sharma’s service period had been completed, but the Gehlot had extended her tenure. Due to this, there is a possibility of her not working “impartially” and misusing her position in favour of the ruling party, Rathore alleged
“The chief secretary is the chairperson of the screening committee set up by the election commission and the committee is under the control of the CS,” he said.
“Due to the extension given to Sharma, she has received benefits from the state government and there is the possibility that she can favour the political party that has granted her the extension and she will misuse her post. She should immediately be removed from her post of chief secretary and any decision taken by her after the model code of conduct came into force, those should be invalidated,” he said.
Rathore said a BJP delegation would give a memo in this regard to the Chief Election Commissioner too. The BJP MLA from Churu is contesting from Taranagar this time.
