Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar raised questions over the holding of more than 100 police inspectors in key positions in Mumbai during a review meeting with top Maharashtra officials on Friday. According to sources, CEC Rajeev Kumar said that on July 31, 2024, instructions were given to transfer such officers who have been working for more than three years in their home district or present posting. But despite the instructions, the state administration has not yet completed the process. The CEC asked the Chief Secretary why despite clear instructions from the Election Commission (ECI), there is a delay in removing state revenue officers from important posts.
Expressing dissatisfaction over this non-compliance, the Election Commission has sought clarification on the matter from the Chief Secretary (CS) and the Director General of Police (DGP). Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar expressed displeasure over the lack of necessary action by the state administration regarding transfers of officers in view of election preparations. He also reprimanded the Excise Commissioner of Maharashtra and gave strict instructions to stop the flow of illicit liquor from neighboring states ahead of the upcoming elections in the state. “Keep a close watch on the movement and distribution of any kind of illicit liquor,” the CEC told the Excise Commissioner.
During the meeting, CEC Rajiv Kumar directed the enforcement agencies to check the helicopters of all leaders and star campaigners as per the prescribed protocol and no one should be given any special treatment. “No privilege will be given and everyone will be treated equally,” he said. The Election Commission also directed that there should be no movement of cash in vehicles like police vans and ambulances and that the flow of illegal cash should be strictly monitored. Instructions were given to the bank to transfer cash only in prescribed time and through prescribed vehicles. CEC said that transfer of cash should be banned after sunset.
The Director of Narcotics Control Bureau was also instructed to keep a strict vigil on the movement of narcotics in the border areas. The CEC said that strict vigil should be ensured on important routes and exchange of intelligence between agencies is necessary. An Election Commission delegation led by CEC Rajeev Kumar along with the Election Commissioners is present in Mumbai to review the preparations for the upcoming assembly elections. Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held on 288 seats. The Election Commission has not yet announced the election dates. The upcoming Maharashtra elections will see a contest between Maha Vikas Aghadi (UBT Shiv Sena, NCP – Sharad Pawar faction, and Congress) and Mahayuti (BJP, Shiv Sena – Eknath Shinde faction, and NCP – Ajit Pawar faction).
Earlier, a team of the Election Commission (EC) led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar met representatives of all political parties on Friday to seek their suggestions for the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suggested voting on working days, while the Congress objected to setting up polling stations in ‘residential societies’. One by one the Election Commission team held meetings with representatives of all political parties. The Congress delegation was led by Munaf Hakim and Gajanan Desai.
(input agency)
