In a move that has sparked discussion, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed cricketer Rinku Singh from his position as the state icon for Uttar Pradesh’s Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program. The decision comes in the wake of Singh’s engagement to Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament, Priya Saroj.

Concerns regarding the potential compromise of political neutrality within the voter awareness campaign led to the ECI’s decision. The Commission aims to ensure complete impartiality in its outreach efforts, and Singh’s association with a prominent political figure was deemed incompatible with this objective.

Authorities are currently undertaking the removal of all promotional materials featuring Rinku Singh. This includes billboards, digital advertisements, and any other materials used in the SVEEP campaign. The ECI’s swift action underlines its commitment to maintaining a politically neutral environment during the electoral process. A replacement for Rinku Singh as the SVEEP ambassador is yet to be announced.