Apathy of urban, young voters in Maharashtra matter of concern: CEC Rajiv Kumar
Mumbai (PTI): Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday expressed concern over the "apathy" of urban and young voters in Maharashtra, and said efforts are being made to ensure maximum polling in the coming assembly elections in the state.
Speaking at a press conference here after reviewing poll preparedness, CEC Kumar informed that strict instructions have been given to the administration that officers who have completed three years in their posting should be transferred immediately.
The CEC, who wrapped up the poll body's two-day visit to the state, also warned that fake news during the polls will be dealt with sternly.
Besides disclosing in their affidavits, candidates have to prominently declare criminal cases they are facing, if any, thrice in newspapers in print as well on television, he said, adding that political parties too have to publish within three days of nomination why a candidate with criminal background was selected.
"You (political parties) have to tell the public whether you did not get any (other) candidate and why was it necessary to select them (those with criminal background)," he said.
The CEC informed that webcasting of proceedings will be done at a minimum of 50 percent of booths -- 100 per cent in urban areas and at more than 50 per cent booths in rural areas.
"We are committed to provide free, fair, inducement-free, accessible and inclusive elections at every stage. We will make all efforts sincerely to provide absolutely level-playing field," he said.
Talking about the voter apathy witnessed in urban areas of the state, the CEC pointed out that Colaba in south Mumbai (40 per cent voting), Pune Cantonment (43 per cent), Mumbadevi and Kurla in Mumbai (44 per cent) and Kalyan near Mumbai (41 per cent) were the areas which recorded among the lowest voter turnout in the Lok Sabha polls this year.
"Urban apathy and youth apathy is a big issue in certain parts of Maharashtra," Kumar said, adding that political parties made a demand that polling should be held in the middle of a week so that people do not club polling days with the weekend and treat it as an extended holiday.
"It (urban apathy) does not behove well," he further said, and cited, in comparison, voting figures of Doda (72 per cent), Riyasi (74), Poonch (74) in Jammu and Kashmir, and Left-Wing Extremist-affected areas like Bastar (68 per cent) and Gadchiroli (73 per cent).
"If Gadchiroli (in eastern Maharashtra) can poll 73 per cent, then polling in Colaba, Kalyan and Pune can also rise," the CEC added.
All parties wanted the Election Commission to keep Diwali and Chhath celebrations in mind while scheduling the elections, he said.
Efforts are being taken to ensure that there is maximum enrolment and voting in Maharashtra assembly elections, Kumar said, adding that if any name is yet to be enrolled, it can be done even now.
On transfer of officials, the CEC said the poll body made it clear to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary and Director General of Police that those who have completed three years must be transferred.
"There can be no disagreement on this. We are not reconsidering this. Everybody must be transferred," he said.
"We have asked Maharashtra Government to shift officials who have served in their home district or current posting for over three years," Kumar said, adding he has asked for a compliance report in the next couple of days.
About the Opposition Congress demanding transfer of Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla to ensure free and fair polls, he said individual complaints are not discussed in press conferences, but the poll body will go through the process rigorously and take decision.
Daily wage earners and others in the unorganised sector should be informed by the administration that voting day will be a paid holiday for them, he said.
There will be checking of all helicopters (during electioneering) to ensure inducement-free elections, he said.
Kumar warned that those spreading fake news and using deep fake technology on social media (to spread wrong or misleading information about elections or candidates) will be dealt with sternly.
"I am confident Maharashtra will contribute to the ensuing festival of democracy," Kumar said.
"We met all the stakeholders, including political parties and officials during our stay in Mumbai, he added.
To a question about whether the Maharashtra elections will be held in a single phase or multiple phases, he said, "You will come to know that later."
There will be 1,00,186 polling booths in the assembly elections of which 42,585 would be in urban areas and 57,601 in rural parts. As many as 350 booths will be managed only by the youth --- those who have recently joined government service, while there will be 388 booths will all-women staff.
During the visit to the state, the Election Commission met leaders of 11 parties -- BJP, BSP, AAP, CPI (M), Congress, MNS, SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), Shiv Sena, NCP and NCP (SP), Kumar said.
Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were also present at the press conference.
The term of the current 288-member Maharashtra assembly will come to an end on November 26.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
