Pune: The recent appointment of Suhas Diwase as the District Collector of Pune, replacing Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, has ignited controversy as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) raises objections and urges the Central Election Commission to annul the appointment.
Diwase, who assumed the role of District Collector on February 7, has been working in significant positions in Pune for the past four years. The AAP alleges a violation of rules set by the Election Commission for transfers, especially in the context of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Vijay Kumbhar, the Maharashtra State Vice President of AAP and head of the Surajya Sangharsh Samiti, has formally requested the Election Commission to cancel Diwase’s appointment, citing the breach of established regulations.
According to Kumbhar, the Election Commission mandates the transfer of officers who have served in a district for three years or more. This rule aims to ensure fair and unbiased administration during election periods. The objection stems from the perceived violation of this rule in Diwase’s case, as he has been a prominent figure in Pune for nearly four years.
Diwase previously held the position of Metropolitan Commissioner of Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) from July 2020 to August 2022. Following this, he served as the State Sports Commissioner in Pune from September 2022 to February 7, 2024, before assuming the role of Pune District Collector.
While there have been changes in criteria for officer transfers in the wake of Lok Sabha elections, Kumbhar asserts that Diwase’s appointment does not align with these modified guidelines. The Election Commission, in a letter dated December 21, 2023, clarified that officers exceeding three years in a district can remain if they do not handle election-related work, with the condition that they won’t be assigned such tasks in the future. Kumbhar argues that this condition has been breached, as Diwase is now designated as the Chief Election Returning Officer for four Lok Sabha constituencies in Pune district.
