The Opposition Congress has demanded that the Election Commission remove Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla from her post during the polls to ensure a “fair and impartial” polls in the state. Congress state president Nana Patole through a letter to the EC said that to ensure fair and impartial Assembly elections, officials who help the ruling party should be removed. “Shukla was due to retire on June 30, 2024, upon reaching the age of superannuation as per her date of birth in June 1964. However, she has been illegally granted an extension until January 2026, in direct violation of the Maharashtra Police Act, which stipulates that the DGP of the state shall have a term of two years or until their retirement, whichever is earlier," Patole said in a letter. A message sent to Shukla did not elicit any response. A Congress delegation met with the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who is on a two-day tour of Maharashtra. The delegation included Congress state general secretaries Munaf Hakim and Dr Gajanan Desai who handed over a copy of the letter that Nana Patole had sent to the Chief Election Commissioner on September 24, demanding the removal of Rashmi Shukla. Speaking to the press at Tilak Bhavan, Nana Patole said that despite her service tenure ending, the BJP-led government has extended Rashmi Shukla's tenure by two years. “She continues to assist the BJP-led government, and such controversial and suspicious officers should not be in office during elections. Otherwise, the elections will not be fair. Congress has made this demand, and the election officials have assured action," Patole said. The Congress party also registered its objection to the polling stations in private societies and insisted that voting should be held in government buildings only. Additionally, Form 17C, which provides polling data, should be immediately handed over to polling agents after voting, Munaf Hakim added.
