New Delhi: Hours after he was removed as a general observer for Gujarat assembly polls by the Election Commission (EC) for indulging in a "publicity stunt" by posting pictures of his assignment on social media sites Instagram and Twitter, Uttar Pradesh IAS officer Abhishek Singh stated in a tweet that although he accepts the ECI's decision "with all humility" he believes there is "nothing wrong" in the post.
"I accept the Hon’ble ECI’s decision with all humility. Though I believe there’s nothing wrong in this post. A public servant, in a car bought by public’s money, reporting for public duty,with public officials, communicating it to the public. It is neither publicity nor a stunt!" tweeted Singh.
Earlier in the day Singh tweeted "Joined Ahmedabad as Observer for Gujarat Elections #Elections 2022 #GujaratElections2022 #NoVoterTobeleftBehindNovember (sic)," the officer wrote in twitter, with two pictures with one posing him with his official car bearing a red 'Observer' written on it. The next picture had his team with the armed guard.
The poll panel shot off a strongly-worded letter to the Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Friday on this issue. The EC in its communique said the 2011 batch officer used the social media platforms for sharing his posting as a general observer for Ahmedabad which was uncalled for.
It indicted him as having used his official position as a "publicity stunt". The Commission shared with the CEO pictures uploaded by the officer on the social media platform, the sources said. Citing the EC communication, the sources said the State unit took "a very serious view" of the incident.
Abhishek Singh, the IAS officer, was immediately relieved of his duties as a general observer. He has also been debarred from any election-related duty till further orders. The officer was also directed to leave the constituency of which he was given the responsibility immediately and report to his nodal officer in the parent cadre.
All government facilities provided to him to facilitate the discharge of his observer duties be withdrawn, the letter said, according to the sources. Another IAS officer has been given additional charge of the assembly seats Singh was handling, they said. Singh was earlier appointed as General Observer for Bapunagar and Asarwa Assembly Constituencies in Ahmedabad.
