Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar confirmed that no exceptions will be made in transferring officers who have served over three years in the same location or are posted in their home districts ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls. Speaking at a media briefing on Saturday, Kumar addressed concerns raised by political parties, including the Congress’s demand for the transfer of Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla to ensure “fair and impartial” elections. While he refrained from commenting on individual cases, he emphasized that the Election Commission’s rules would be applied uniformly.
Kumar’s visit to Maharashtra, where elections are due before November 26—the date the current Assembly term expires—focused on the upcoming poll preparations. He mentioned that the Election Commission will soon decide whether the elections will be held in one or multiple phases and noted that political parties have requested consideration of the festive season when scheduling the election dates.
Regarding officer transfers, Kumar reiterated that all government servants involved in election duties are effectively on deputation to the Election Commission, which will take the necessary steps to prevent any undue influence on the election process. Additionally, he highlighted that candidates with criminal cases must publicize their backgrounds at least three times in both print and electronic media.
