From khaki to khadi: Pol campaigns for Congress

Pune: Former Pune police commissioner Gulabrao Pol seems to be following in the footsteps of former Mumbai police commissioner Satyapal Singh. He was seen busily campaigning for Congress candidate Kallappanna Awade, who is contesting from Hatkanangale constituency in Kolhapur district.
After his sudden appointment as the additional director general (MAHADISCOM), Pol had applied for voluntary retirement leading to a buzz among senior police officers that Pol may enter politics in the near future.
Speaking to dna, Pol has confirmed that his voluntary retirement has been sanctioned. He said, “On April 1, I received a communique from the government, and now I have officially retired from the police force.”
The top brass officers said that Pol is close to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and an Ajit Pawar loyalist. The appointment of Pol as Pune’s first non-IPS officer for the post of commissioner was made by the NCP in 2012. A senior officer on condition of anonymity told dna, “Pol is likely to contest the upcoming assembly elections from his taluka in Satara district.” To this, Pol said, “I have retired from the force, and I am a farmer now. Presently, I am focusing on my farming and my priority will be the same in future.”
However, two weeks ago Pol had attended an election rally of Awade at Wadagaon in Hatkanangale. Pol shared stage with the Congress politicians of Kolhapur district. On being quizzed over it, Pol preferred to keep mum.
Apart from Kolhapur, Pol was also seen with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders in Solapur last week, and was busy in election rallies as well.