The Election Commission team, on a two-day visit to Maharashtra to review the preparations for the state assembly elections, has completed its tour. During the two-day visit, the Election Commission team held important meetings with several political parties and officials, and announced that the elections must be held before November 26, as the term of the Maharashtra Assembly is ending in November.
After reviewing the situation in Maharashtra, the Election Commission held a press conference on Saturday and provided information about the election preparations. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stated, 'We are here to give you details about our preparations for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. Over the past two days, we have met with all the national and state-level political parties. We also held meetings with all law enforcement officials and gave them several directives.'
Voting to be held mid-week: EC
We met with 11 parties including BSP, AAP, NCP, NCP (SP), NCP, Shiv Sena, UBT Sena, MNS, BJP, Congress. They have advised scheduling the elections considering the Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals. Political parties also demanded that voting be done mid-week. Additionally, they highlighted the need for phone facilities at booths and the inconvenience caused by bringing mobile phones to polling stations. Transfer postings should be conducted, and transportation should be provided for senior citizens. Local individuals should act as polling agents since they are familiar with the area. Fake news should also be monitored.
'Participation of everyone is essential in democracy'
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar added, 'Participation of everyone is essential in a democracy... Maharashtra has 1,186 voting centers, with 42,558 urban booths and 57,600 rural booths. We are striving to ensure 100% CCTV coverage at urban booths and more than 50% coverage in rural areas. 350 booths will be managed by youth, 299 booths by persons with disabilities, and 388 booths solely by women.'
The Commission announced that there are 9.59 crore voters for the 288 seats of the assembly, with 49,039 voters aged over a hundred. The number of female voters in Maharashtra has also increased by 22%.
All major tribal communities in Maharashtra are now included in the voter list. Voters with disabilities and elderly voters can notify their arrival to booth officials through the SAKSHAM app, ensuring they receive priority assistance for casting their votes.
Furthermore, it is our responsibility to first include voters in remote and difficult-to-reach areas in the voter list and then ensure they cast their votes. We will make efforts to increase the voting percentage at booths with low turnout, focusing on areas like Colaba, Kalyan, Kurla, and Mumba Devi. You should compare this to Kashmir's Doda Reasi Vaishno Devi, Bastar, and Gadchiroli, where voting percentages have surpassed 75%. If they can achieve that, so can Kalyan, Colaba, and Kurla!
'Election Holiday will be paid'
The Commission has also stated that election day will be a paid holiday. Industrial areas will be informed, and strict adherence to this policy will be required.
