Is it a ‘Pol’itical move? for Gulabrao Pol

Govt was in an awkward position over Dabholkar murder case
I don’t know why Pol was transferred suddenly and why he has decided to resign. There have been so many undercurrents recently. Also, I have no idea about Pol’s intention to join politics. The failure in bringing down chain-snatching incidents cannot be the reason for a top cop’s transfer. The government might be in an awkward position for failing miserably in cracking the Dabholkar murder case and Pol’s transfer might be to show that some action has been taken. 
—Suresh Khopde, Special IGP (retd)

Both Pol and Satyapal are known for their efficiency
Everyone has got the right to join politics and it is their personal decision. When someone at a crucial position takes an important decision to resign, it affects many people. I can’t tell the reason behind Pol’s transfer, it can be a political move. However, for those at top positions who want to resign/retire and enter politics, the gap should be of at least one or two years. Both the officials, Pol and Satyapal are known for their efficiency. 
—Neelam Gorhe, spokeperson, Shiv Sena

Several top IAS and IPS officers are keen to join politics 
Gulabrao Pol’s sudden transfer seems to be an outcome of his failure to solve Dabholkar murder case and control the increasing chain-snatching incidents in the city. His transfer does not look like a routine thing that happens with the top posts. I don’t know about Pol’s political ambitions, but there are many top IAS and IPS officers who want to join politics and they are welcome. On an individual level, I don’t know Pol’s choice. If at all he makes a choice, it will be the concerned party chief’s decision. 
—Subhas Vare, member, national executive, AAP

Pol’s decision to resign has nothing to do with his transfer
It is not that Gulabrao Pol has decided to resign because of his sudden transfer to the MSEDCL top post. For long, he had aspired to join politics and personally spoke to me about his aspirations. Pol’s resignation has nothing to do with his transfer. He may join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) or the Congress. If not, his third choice will be the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). It is just a coincidence that the transfer order has come his way, which he took as a chance to resign and enter politics. It will not surprise me if he enters politics from his native place Mann in Satara district. Pol’s transfer also has nothing to do with his failure to solve the Dabholkar murder case. 
—Kumar Saptarshi, founder, Yuvak Kranti Dal

Dabholkar murder, chain snatchings could be the reason for his shifting
It seems all bureaucrats and top officials are suddenly getting attracted to politics with the upcoming general elections. The Dabholkar murder case and rising chain-snatching incidents could be the reason for Pol’s sudden transfer. However, it seems he had already made up his mind to resign and join politics. He was waiting for the right moment and a genuine reason to quit, which he finally got. His ultimate goal seems to be politics.
—Vivek Velankar, coordinator, Sajag Nagrik Manch 

It seems the top cop is positioning himself to enter politics
There have been similar instances of top cops joining politics as they near their retirement. We can take the recent example of Satyapal Singh quitting as Mumbai police chief and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. Senior police personnel work with top politicians during their tenure and they become ambitious to join politics. From his sudden transfer to his decision to resign, Pol looks inclined to joining some political party. After Kejriwal’s movement, many bureaucrats have realised that politics could be a good career. The transfer of Pol has nothing to do with he being unsuccessful in cracking the Dabholkar case. The transfer and resignation look like Pol is positioning himself to enter politics. 
—Vidyabhushan Arya, faculty, political science 

If he enters politics, it will be for assembly polls not Lok Sabha
Whoever is strongly linked to the government administration is always on the lookout for an opportunity to resign and enter politics. There is no neutrality in administration or government, where everything depends on the trust and support factor. You should have the support and trust of senior political leaders. Whether it is Pol or Satyapal, when these top post officers are in service, they are connected with political leaders or parties. They might have been on the lookout for the right opportunity. Nowadays, there is a strong wave of middle class and upper middle class joining politics after the AAP movement. Probably, Pol might have unknowingly got carried away by this wave. If he enters politics, it will be for the assembly elections and not LS polls.
—Prakash Pawar, professor, political science