The demand was made before the Election Commission by a Congress delegation which submitted a list of 11 officials including names of senior, middle and junior level officers.
Congress today demanded immediate removal of controversial UP Chief Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh and other senior officials accusing them of "acting like arms and eyes" of Mayawati government in the poll-bound state.
The demand was made before the Election Commission by a Congress delegation led by Digvijay Singh which submitted a list of 11 officials including names of senior, middle and junior level officers.
Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, who was part of the delegation, said, "These officers are completely subordinated, intimidated and used as arms and eyes of the ruling party."
Citing examples, he said in two constituencies, the husbands of female candidates are working as education officers.
Alleging "total submission of the state machinery to the ruling party", Singhvi said at the AICC briefing, "they are are spokespersons of BSP. They are not government servants but servants of the BSP."
He said, "The Election Commission has heard us patiently. We are expecting some tough action... at least immediate transfer."
Congress sources said the names of the Chief Secretary and another senior officer Fateh Bahadur Singh figured in the list given to the EC.
The party complained to the EC that Mayawati government was violating the model code of conduct by "misusing" its officials to create a "non-level playing field" during the polls.
Singhvi said, "The state administration is misusing its officials to ensure a non-level playing field for elections and we have put appropriate complaints in that regard, including naming of individual officials in several districts and areas."
He also charged the state government with stopping the movement of Congress workers and election material for campaigning.
"We have also pointed out how the movement of men and material cannot and should not be obstructed or hindered in any manner, because that is contrary to the election code of conduct," Singhvi told reporters after the meeting.
He pointed out that the Congress delegation, which also included party General Secretary Digvijay Singh, during its over 90 minute meeting with the CEC discussed a large number of issues relating to the Uttar Pradesh elections.
"This delegation had a long and detailed meeting with the election commission, specially in respect of Uttar Pradesh. A large number of issues macro and micro have been raised, they ranged from the particular to the general issues of policy," he said.
Singhvi alleged that the state officials are taking action on assumption that election candidates for later phases of polls have also been announced.
"Action taken (by officials) on assumption that individuals (involved in campaign) are candidates, when there is no candidates and no nominations have been filed, is wrong practice," he said. Congress is yet to finalise all its candidates for the 403 strong UP Assembly.
Singhvi said the state officials in certain areas have wrongly initiated action against Congress party workers, assuming them to be the election candidates.
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