Two weeks earlier than Maharashtra votes in Assembly polls, the Election Commission has ordered the switch of Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla, in line with sources. The Opposition, led by the Congress, had alleged that the senior IPS officer was biased in direction of the ruling Mahayuti alliance and that truthful polls would not be potential if she was within the high submit.
The ballot physique has requested Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik at hand over Ms Shukla’s cost to the subsequent seniormost IPS officer with quick impact and ship a panel of three names by tomorrow for collection of the subsequent state police chief.
During evaluation conferences and announcement of Assembly polls, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had warned officers to be neutral and truthful and make sure that they’re perceived as non-partisan in conducting their duties.
Opposition events, together with the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), had accused Ms Shukla of bias.
“There is a really severe allegation in opposition to the state’s Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla. In 2019, when our authorities was being fashioned, this Director General of Police, who was instantly working for the Bharatiya Janata Party, was tapping all our telephones and giving full data to Devendra Fadnavis about what we have been going to do,” Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, had instructed the media.
“Can we anticipate her to conduct truthful elections? We have stated that the reins of elections shouldn’t be given to her, after which the Election Commission stated that they don’t have the suitable (to switch). How can this occur? At the identical time, Jharkhand’s DGP was modified. Maharashtra’s election is being carried out based mostly on police strain,” he added.
State Congress chief Nana Patole had written to the Chief Election Commissioner, requesting Ms Shukla’s removing from the submit of the state police chief.
Mr Patole had accused the senior girl police officer of displaying a “clear bias” in opposition to Opposition events. “Over the previous 20 days, political violence in opposition to opposition events has considerably escalated, with a notable deterioration within the legislation and order scenario. She has proven a transparent bias in opposition to the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP(SP), as evidenced by her earlier report of unlawful cellphone tapping of opposition leaders whereas serving as Commissioner of Police, Pune, and Commissioner of the State Intelligence Department (SID),” his letter stated.
Congress’s Vijay Wadettiwar Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, has welcomed the highest cop’s switch. “It grew to become clear at present that the coalition authorities was being dishonest. What was the compulsion of the alliance authorities to increase the time period of police officer Rashmi Shukla who was going through severe expenses? She was given an extension to make sure that the meeting elections in Maharashtra aren’t carried out in a clear method,” he stated in a submit on X.
An IPS officer of the 1988 batch, Ms Shukla is the primary girl to grow to be Maharashtra’s police chief. Earlier, she served as director normal of Sashstra Seema Bal.
Maharashtra’s 288 Assembly seats will vote on November 20. Counting of votes is on November 23.