THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sources in the home ministry say that Loknath Behra will continue in the position of DGP until his retirement. Chief electoral officer Tikaram Meena has said that after evaluating the directions of the central poll panel a final decision on the issue will be taken. The basis for discussions on Behra’s removal from the post emanates on the poll panel’s law which state those important office bearers who are continuing in their positions for more than three years should step down before the assembly polls.

The central election commission has written to the state government demanding to make urgent transfer of officers as per the law. “Those who have election duty should not be appointed in home districts. Those who continue in the same position should be removed. Those who were subjected to disciplinary action from the poll panel and those who are about to retire within six months should be kept off from the election duty,” the poll panel said in its letter.

But the letter doesn’t say explicitly on which police officers the law is applicable. However, the letter is accompanied by the notification of guidelines issued before the Lok Sabha polls. In the notification, it is said that the law is applicable to officers up to the rank of IG. If that is the case, then there is no issue over Behra’s continuation in the DGP post.