Congress seeks EC action against IPS officer Rashmi Shukla for MCC violation in Maharashtra
Mumbai: The Congress has called on the Election Commission (EC) to take action against senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla for allegedly breaching the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
According to Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe, Shukla, who previously served as Maharashtra’s Intelligence Chief and was the Director General of Police (DGP), met Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence on November 23, the day election results were declared. The MCC was still in force at the time. Fadnavis also holds the Home portfolio in the Maharashtra government.
Earlier this month, the EC directed the Maharashtra government to transfer Shukla following complaints from various political parties, including the Congress. The commission ordered her responsibilities to be reassigned to the next senior-most IPS officer.
Highlighting the meeting as a "clear violation" of the poll code, Londhe criticised the EC's apparent inaction, drawing comparisons to a similar incident in Telangana. In that case, then-DGP Anjani Kumar faced consequences for meeting the Chief Minister-designate during elections. Londhe alleged that the EC acts quickly in non-BJP states but remains lenient in BJP-ruled ones, questioning the neutrality of the institution.
Londhe also pointed to past controversies involving Shukla, including allegations of phone tapping targeting Opposition leaders. “Her meeting with the Home Minister during the poll code period is a blatant breach and warrants strict action,” he added.
The Congress has demanded accountability and urged the EC to act immediately against Shukla, describing the incident as a serious violation of electoral norms.
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
