from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, May 7: The Election Commission has recommended transfer of some non-IAS officers in the state ahead of the June 2 assembly elections.

Among the officials whose transfers have been sought by the EC is South Goa collector G P Naik.

“We have received the directions from the EC and the re-shuffling would be done soon,” stated state chief secretary J P Singh.

The government intends to replace the South Goa collector with IAS officer Santosh Vaidya, who is currently the state education secretary, revealed the official sources.

The EC has also recommended transfer of deputy collector (South) Deepak Desai and South Goa’s Margao area mamlatdar (revenue) Johnson Fernandes, among others.

The sources said that some of the officers did not come prepared for an EC meeting regarding the polls, thus inviting the action. Meanwhile, the EC is keeping a close watch over increase in sale of two-wheelers during past one week.

The officials of the state election office said that they are investigating whether the sale of two-wheelers in the state has taken place in large numbers and in any way connected to the violation of the election code of conduct.

The officials further maintained that the EC is also probing the finance companies who have given loans for the bikes sold. The figures available with the transport department indicate that 650-odd two-wheelers were sold within a week throughout Goa, which is a considerable number for a small state.