Agra: Taking strict note of gross negligence and alleged malpractices during the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has suspended six supervisory officers with immediate effect. The decisive action comes after the Agra Divisional Commissioner submitted a detailed report recommending repolling at specific booths in the Agra Division Teachers’ Constituency.
According to a statement released by the Election Commission, the officials failed to maintain proper monitoring and control around the designated polling centres. Calling it a case of severe dereliction of duty, the poll panel emphasised that such administrative laxity fundamentally compromises the electoral process and would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The controversy erupted on Friday when polling for the biennial council elections was held. Following the vote, Dr. Akash Agarwal, the outgoing Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and candidate backed by the Samajwadi Party, raised serious allegations of widespread rigging and booth capturing. Prompted by these complaints and the subsequent official inquiry, the ECI declared the polling at booth numbers 20, 21, and 26 null and void.
The suspended personnel include Sector Magistrates and police officials who were deployed at polling station 21 (Kshetra Panchayat Office, Saiyan) and polling station 26 (Kshetra Panchayat Office, Fatehabad). The six officers facing the axe have been identified by authorities as O.P. Chak, Vishal Rathore, Inspector Harisharan Singh, Inspector Purushottam Pal, Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar, and Sub-Inspector Sumit Tyagi.
In addition to the immediate suspensions, the poll panel has instructed the administration to formally issue charge sheets to the six officers. The commission has demanded that a draft for the investigation be submitted within 10 days to ensure a swift inquiry.
The disciplinary sweep extends well beyond the supervisory level. The Election Commission has also initiated stringent disciplinary proceedings against five other election officers and 16 police personnel—comprising five head constables and 11 constables—who were on duty at booths 21 and 26.
Local authorities have been ordered to file an immediate compliance report detailing the actions taken against all the erring staff. Meanwhile, fresh polling dates for the cancelled booths are expected to be announced shortly as the state administration tightens security protocols to ensure a free, fair, and transparent democratic exercise.