By IANS
Shimla : The Election Commission has shifted out the Bilaspur district magistrate in Himachal Pradesh, following a complaint by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), officials said Sunday.
The BJP pointed out that Rajender Singh Thakur, who was appointed district magistrate a few weeks ago by the ruling Congress party, was not an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer but only a provincial service officer.
It asserted that only an IAS officer could hold the post of district magistrate.
Pushpender Rajput, an IAS officer, has been appointed in place of Thakur, a government spokesman said.
Thakur, who was removed late Saturday, is said to be close to Forest Minister Ram Lal Thakur, who is contesting the Hamirpur by-election June 2 against former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of BJP.