BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government removed the district collector and superintendent of police of bypoll bound Bhind district in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday evening, after the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines allegedly dispensed only BJP slips in a mock-test conducted on Friday.
Bhind district collector Illaiya Raja T and superintendent of police Anil Singh Kushwah were removed a few hours after the Election Commission of India (ECI) sought a report on the incident from the State government. It had also asked for a report on 21 government officials posted in Bhind district.
ECI sought a report from the chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh, following representations by Congress leaders in Delhi. The Congress delegation had submitted before the commission on Saturday that the officials can influence free and fair elections in Ater constituency, where bypolls are scheduled to be held on April 9.
Meanwhile, sources have revealed that the State government is also planning to constitute a committee to probe the issue.