Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal on Friday categorically stated that the political leaders need not blame the officers, including him, for a ‘defeat’ in the recent by-elections.
Talking to media persons at the Secretariat, Mr Bhanwar Lal asserted that the officers, including himself, worked hard day and night impartially and they cannot be criticized for any reverses in the just concluded elections.
The voters chose their candidate based on their performance and their failure or defeat cannot be attributed to the officers’ discharge of duties, the Chief Electoral Officers asserted.
The recent by-polls saw appointment of 11 observers from different regions apart from local officers who had done well in their supervision, Mr Bhanwar Lal reminded.
He quoted a channel flaying him and chose to negate the criticism launched by the channel saying they (the officers) were at no fault for anyone’s defeat.
Obviously Mr Bhanwar Lal turned out to be the first IAS officer who had openly dared to make light of the criticism launched by Congress MLA Veerasiva Reddy. This was also the most peaceful elections, he said and praised the officers concerned.