The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, took stock of the preparations for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections on Saturday. During a press conference, he highlighted the critical timeline for the polls, emphasizing that they must be completed before the current legislative assembly term ends on November 26th.
Kumar shared that he had met with leaders from 11 political parties, including the BSP, AAP, CPI(M), Congress, NPP, MNS, Nationalist Congress Party, NCP (SC), Shiv Sena, and Shiv Sena (UBT). These parties expressed concerns about the timing of the elections, urging the Election Commission to consider upcoming major festivals like Diwali, Dev Diwali, and Chhath Puja when setting the dates.
The political parties also presented other crucial demands. They stressed the need for a level playing field, advocating for unbiased officer transfers and a crackdown on the use of money power. They also emphasized the importance of providing adequate facilities at polling stations, particularly in urban areas like Mumbai, to ensure a smooth voting experience for all citizens.
Focusing on voter apathy in urban areas, the CEC singled out Colaba and Kalyan, areas near Mumbai that had significantly low voter turnout during the recent Lok Sabha elections. He expressed concern about this trend and emphasized the need to address the issue.
Looking ahead, the CEC has issued directives to all District Election Officers and Superintendents of Police. He instructed them to ensure the availability of essential facilities at polling stations and effective management of voter queues.
With the elections approaching, voters in Maharashtra will be choosing their representatives for 288 constituencies. A total of 9.95 crore voters are eligible to participate, including 4.95 crore men and 4.64 crore women. A significant number, 19.48 lakh, will be voting for the first time, representing those aged 18-19.
Addressing the importance of transparency, the CEC highlighted the voters’ right to know if any candidate has a criminal background. He stressed the importance of political parties informing the public about the reasons for fielding such candidates.
