From Inspector General from Western Sector

           The headquarters of the Western Sector, Central Reserve Police Force is located in Navi Mumbai and its operations extend to the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa including the union territories of Dadar Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The Assembly Elections 2019 just concluded in Maharashtra. The Sector Office was entrusted with the important responsibility of the State Force Coordinator of the companies of the CRPF and the companies of the State Armed Forces being posted in the elections due to the responsibility of the Maharashtra Western Sector for the assembly elections by the Directorate General, CRPF New Delhi.

           The Assembly - 2019 election was held on 21 October 2019 in a single phase for 288 seats in the state of Maharashtra. Conducting clean, free, fair, peaceful and fear-free elections was not only an important responsibility but also a statutory responsibility. A total of 350 companies including central forces were deployed in the state of Maharashtra. Initial work was to ensure the arrival of companies and to make arrangements for their living, eating and drinking in coordination with the administrative officers of the State of Maharashtra.

           Sh Ravindra Singh Rautela, Deputy Inspector General of Police, (ADM) Western HQR, Maharashtra was the convening force in the state elections. In addition, Sh Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Nagpur, Sh Devendra Rawat, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Pune, Sh Manas Ranjan, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Gadchiroli served as zonal commander. A temporary control room was also set up for effective and prompt action during the election. The deployment of central forces in collaboration with the state administration was done sensitively at each booth. In order to facilitate the knowledge of duties during election duty by the companies of the force, a small size Election Directory was prepared in both language i.e Hindi and English at the western sector level, one copy each of which is at the section level of the company. Provided till In addition to the election duty, the contact number / address of all the institutions and authorities related to the election was also included so that I could contact me directly in any odd situation when needed, which was very useful.

           I was present in Maharashtra myself and kept an eye on the situation continuously with the state administration from the pre-election date till the completion of the elections, the safe return of the companies of CRPF, Central and State Armed Forces. The peaceful completion of the election was remarkable due to the well planned functioning of the force, in Gadchiroli district, which is highly vulnerable to Naxal-affected peace. Maharashtra assembly election-2019 was concluded peacefully with the cooperation of all.

           I am deeply grateful to all the officers and personnel of the force for their contribution in carrying out this great ritual of democracy.

Jai Hind.

                                                                                                              Rajkumar, IPS

                                                                                                              Inspector General of Police