LUCKNOW: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday removed IAS officer Abhay Singh, a 2007-batch officer, from observer duty for the Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers’ constituency in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections following allegations of irregularities raised by a sitting BJP MLC.According to an official communication issued by the office of UP chief electoral officer Navdeep Rinwa on October 26, Singh has been placed in reserve, while 2009-batch IAS officer Prakash Bindu has been appointed as his replacement.The commission has directed Bindu to report to the Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers’ constituency on October 27, the scheduled polling day.The development follows a complaint submitted to the Election Commission by the sitting BJP MLC, who raised allegations concerning the election process and referred to Singh’s past record.The official communication, however, does not specify the reasons for Singh’s removal from observer duty.
