Pune District Collector’s Move to Delhi Sparks Speculation Amid Pune Lok Sabha By-Election Order by High Court
Pune, 13th December 2023: The Pune Lok Sabha constituency is set to undergo by-elections following a Bombay High Court order issued on Wednesday. The constituency has been vacant for over eight months after the passing of BJP MP Girish Bapat.
Pune District Collector Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, also the District Election Officer, left for Delhi immediately after the court’s decision, sparking discussions at the collector’s office. However, it has been clarified that the Collector’s visit is unrelated to the by-election and was pre-planned for training related to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
A petition was filed by Pune resident Sughosh Joshi, challenging the Central Election Commission’s decision not to conduct the by-election. The Bombay High Court, after hearing the plea, criticized the Commission’s inaction and ordered the immediate holding of the by-election to fill the vacant Pune Lok Sabha seat.
Collector Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, also the District Election Officer, left for Delhi right in the afternoon. However, clarification from the collector’s office revealed that the visit was pre-planned and unrelated to the by-election. Dr. Deshmukh is in Delhi for a two-day training program for District Collectors across the country in preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
District Collectors from various states will undergo training for the Lok Sabha elections in a phased manner. Dr. Deshmukh’s visit to Delhi aligns with this pre-scheduled training initiative, providing essential insights and preparation for the role of District Election Officer in the upcoming elections.
