The Election Commission has asked the Bihar government to remove 'tainted' officers, including district magistrates and superintendents of police, before December 20, ahead of the assembly poll early next year.

Sources confirmed that the state government has received directives from the EC to shift officials who were debarred from election duty during the parliamentary poll earlier this year.

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The commission has also asked the government to submit an action taken report.

Six district magistrates -- Brajesh Malhotra (Siwan), Baidyanath Mishra (Saran), Santosh Kumar Mal (Jehanabad), Shivnandan Ram (Khagaria), Rashid Ahmed Khan (Banka) and Hiralal (Gopalganj) are being shifted in accordance with the directive, the sources said. Similarly, a large number of police officials will also be transferred, they said.

The commission has also directed the government to remove officers not transferred during the past three years.

Meanwhile, a three-member EC team comprising Election Commissioner B B Tandon, Deputy Election Commissioner Anant Kumar and Special Observer for Bihar Sayan Chatterjee is scheduled to arrive in Patna on December 8 to review poll preparations.