The state government, on Friday, relieved Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) I V Subba Rao, who has been posted as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel at the Centre, from his duties.

Additional CEO Dakshina Murthy would act as interim Chief Electoral Officer till permanent arrangements were made by the government, a government statement said.

Subba Rao had successfully conducted simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assembly last year and won laurels from various quarters for the way he discharged his duties.

During his tenure as CEO, he introduced several innovative measures for conducting the whole election process in a transparent and effective manner.