Mumbai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has requested updates on FIRs related to electoral offenses during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Superintendent of Police in Maharashtra. This request was made during a review meeting focused on the preparedness for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, as reported.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar directed the SPs to evaluate all cases concerning personnel, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and social media issues. He emphasized the need for prompt action against fake news circulating on social media platforms.
State Police Nodal Officers were instructed to expedite all Lok Sabha 2024-related cases and ensure thorough follow-up without any delays. During the meeting, CEC Kumar urged all District Election Officers (DEOs) and Superintendents of Police to enhance voter experience at polling stations. This includes ensuring minimum facilities, managing voter queues effectively, providing drinking water, and addressing parking issues in congested areas. CEC Kumar also insisted on proper signage and directions at multiple polling stations located in close proximity to one another.
The ECI team, led by CEC Rajiv Kumar, is on a two-day visit to Mumbai to assess the state’s election preparedness. During discussions with Maharashtra's top officials, the CEC raised concerns regarding over 100 police inspectors holding key positions in Mumbai. He noted that despite a directive issued on July 31, 2024, to relocate officials who have been in their current postings for over three years, the state administration has not completed this process.
The CEC expressed dissatisfaction with the state administration's non-compliance and demanded explanations from both the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police for failing to implement ECI orders regarding the transfer of officials ahead of the assembly elections.
Additionally, Rajiv Kumar reprimanded the Excise Commissioner of Maharashtra, instructing strict measures to curb the flow of illicit liquor from neighboring states during the elections. He directed the Excise Commissioner to monitor the movement and distribution of illegal liquor closely.
The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections will take place across 288 constituencies, though the ECI has yet to announce specific election dates. The upcoming polls will see a contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, which includes the UBT Shiv Sena, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, against the Maha Yuti Alliance, composed of the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).
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