New Delhi: As poll schedules for Uttar
Pradesh and four other states were announced, BJP today asked
the Election Commission to remove top bureaucrats and police
officials close to Chief Minister Mayawati accusing them of
working as BSP "agents".
"We are ready for the elections. BJP welcomes the poll
dates announced by the Election Commission today. We will
fight the elections in Uttar Pradesh on the issues of
corruption and crime which have increased manifold under
Mayawati`s rule," BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
However, the BJP feels free and fair polls in the
politically crucial state of UP are not possible till police
officers and top bureaucrats are removed from key postings.
"UP polls are crucial. So the top police and
administrative officials who have conducted themselves as
spokespersons and agents of BSP in the last four and half
years should be removed from key postings. If this is not done
they are likely to interfere in the poll process," Naqvi said.
Polls in UP will be held in seven phases- February 4,
8, 11, 15, 19, 23 and 28. The results will be out on March 4.
A BJP delegation has already submitted to the Election
Commission a list of top officials in UP who are said to
be close to Mayawati.
The list includes the names of the present UP Cabinet
Secretary and DGP. Naqvi maintained scores of bureaucrats and
police officers, even at the district level, were transferred
and demanded revocation of these transfers.
PTI
