Civic poll candidate can now file papers online in Maharashtra

The State Election Commission of Maharashtra (SECM) has decided to allow the candidates in civic elections to file nomination papers online with the help of a special software uploaded on the commission's website.

"Through this software, the candidates can fill forms online and make corrections, if any, and after they are fully satisfied they can take a print-out and submit it to the returning officer," state election commissioner J S Saharia today said here.

"The move has already yielded good results in Gondia and Bhandara Zilla Parishads where the success ratio was 80 per cent and 100 per cent respectively," he added.

Saharia also said that SECM was now deploying election observers for civic polls, as in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

For gram panchayat elections this month and next, SECM is going to deploy 67 poll observers in four districts.

"These observers will be officers of the rank of deputy collector and will not be from the same district where elections are being held," he said.

On the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) book that was released recently, he said the commission had tried to compile five sets of civic laws related to municipal corporation, municipal council, zilla parishads, gram panchayats and panchayat samitis in one book for the reference of election officials.

The commission, to computerise the civic election process, is also developing mobile applications 'True Voter' -- through which the voters can search their names in voters list -- and 'SEC Commander' which will enable the commission to streamline the entire process on polling and counting days.

"The Supreme Court in the Kishansingh Tomar case of 2006has ruled that SECM shall have the same powers for conduct of civic polls as the Election Commission of India has for Lok Sabha and Assembly polls," Saharia noted.