Cong power: UP Poll officer stops Robert Vadra; Transferred

Lucknow, Feb 7: A controversy surfaced ahead of crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly election 2012 when the poll officer - Pawan Sen received transfer order within hours of his "grave" action on Monday, Feb 6. Mr Sen had stopped a bike rally led by Robert Vadra - son-in-law of Congress President, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi's husband.

Mr Vadra's convoy was stopped when it was about enter Salon area of the Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh. The poll officer stopped Mr Vadra on the charge of violating the model code of conduct.

JP Gupta, District Magistrate informed that Mr Vadra's rally was stopped over using more vehicles against the permitted number of ten bikes.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday issued a notice stating that Mr Sen's transfer order was of a routine action and the matter had no relation with Vadra and his convoy.

SY Quraishi, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has been quoted as saying, "today's incident is unrelated to the observer's transfer. It has nothing to do with it. The Election Commission had during its meeting this morning decided that Sen be posted as Deputy Commissioner in South Goa, after complaints from various political parties about the conduct of the present DC in South Goa who was earlier the state chief minister's Principal Secretary."

Pawan Sen, an IAS officer of 2005 batch, has been transferred to another poll-bound state, Goa. However, his transfer has been put on hold till Feb 19 as election will be held in Amethi on that day.

OneIndia News