Telangana: Big rejig in poll year, 4,000 officers on radar

HYDERABAD: To execute the first major administrative reshuffle in five years, the Telangana government is hammering out a list of at least 4,000 officers from revenue, municipal, police and panchayat raj departments of various cadres, who would be deployed for poll duty in run-up to the crucial assembly elections later this year. They include those who served three years in their current posting or working in home districts.
The state government has begun the exercise following Election Commission of India directives on Friday to the chief secretary and chief electoral officer of Telangana. Official sources said, GHMC commissioner D S Lokesh Kumar, who has been in the same post since August 2019, would be transferred. Lokesh also doubles up as the Hyderabad district election officer. Similarly, some zonal commissioners and deputy commissioners of GHMC would be shifted.
Bhadradri Kothagudem collector Anudeep Durishetty, who has been functioning as additional collector and in-charge collector of the district is likely to be transferred. The government is also likely to appoint a full-time Hyderabad collector after a year as the officer has to oversee poll arrangements. Medchal-Malkajgiri district collector D Amoy Kumar has been holding additional charge of Hyderabad.
"Of 595 mandals and 74 revenue divisions in the state, nearly 500 mandal tahsildars and 50 revenue divisional officers (RDOs) have completed three years in the same position. For instance, Rajendra Nagar, Ibrahimpatnam and Chevella RDOs in Ranga Reddy district would be shifted soon," a senior official said.
In some districts, additional collectors have been working in the same post even after retirement. In Ranga Reddy district, additional collector Thirupathi Rao is functioning in the same post even after retirement and contracts of such officers are likely to be terminated, a revenue official said. The government will also shift nearly 1,000 municipal commissioners and other municipal staff, who double up as electoral registration officers, assistant electoral registration officers and assistant returning officer posts during polls. Nearly 2,000 police personnel, including senior officers to deputy superintendents of police, inspectors, sub-inspectors would be shuffled as their role is crucial for election bandobast.
"Generally, 40,000 to 50,000 policemen are deployed during assembly and parliamentary elections. Many have completed three years in their current post and others hail from the same district," an official of General Administration Department (GAD) said. The police department has already prepared a list.