Lukcnow: In a move seen as a reward to officers favourable to party in power, BJP government in Uttar Pradesh late on Friday promoted Rajiv Rautela - the District Magistrate of Gorakhpur. Rajiv Rautela made headlines on Wednesday when he ordered media persons to be dragged out of the counting center.
Counting of votes was in process on Wednesday in Gorakhpur where by-election for the Lok Sabha seat vacated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was held on March11. As the trends showed the BJP losing the election, Rautela reportedly ordered all the media persons to be moved out of the counting center.
Rautela was also the Presiding Officer by virtue of being District Magistrate. Following his order, the reporters who had gathered in a huge number to cover the process had no option but to leave the counter center.
"The media was asked to stay away from the counting centres and come only when they are asked to,” said Harikesh Singh, a journalist said, adding that the District Magistrate was rude to the media persons in general, but was encouraging only those journalists who were close to him.
Rautela's controversial order led to protests from the counting agents of Samajwadi Party (SP) and other opposition parties including the Congress. There was also ruckus in Uttar Pradesh assembly where opposition parties led by SP and BSP staged massive protest against Rautela’s order.
According to reports, the protest at the counting center also stopped the process for over 20 minutes. Counting of votes resumed only after Rautela revoked his order and allowed the media to cover the process.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate, who was supported by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), eventually won the Gorakhpur by-election. The election result was a huge setback for the BJP in general and Yogi Adityanath in particular, as he represented the seat since last 19 years.
The Uttar Pradesh government shifted and prompted Rajeev Raultela as Divisional Commissioner of Devipatan – a move which the opposition parties have termed as a “reward”, though besides him, the state government has also transferred 37 IAS officials, including 15 other District Magistrates.
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