Maha local body elections: SEC orders strict measures for peaceful polling

Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare on Wednesday directed district administrations and police authorities to take strict preventive measures to ensure peaceful polling and counting during the upcoming municipal council and nagar panchayat elections in the state reported news agency PTIPolling to elect presidents and members in 24 municipal councils and nagar panchayats and 154 seats in 76 local bodies will be held on December 20The first phase of elections to 264 municipal council and nagar panchayat polls in the state were held on December 2The counting of votes for all 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats will take place on December 21Waghmare issued the directions while reviewing preparedness through video conferences with district collectors police commissioners superintendents of police and election officers over the last two days State Election Commission Secretary Suresh Kakani Inspector General of Police Manojkumar Sharma and other senior officials were present reported PTIThe SEC said polling and counting must be conducted smoothly and peacefully and any untoward incident should invite immediate and strict action Authorities were also asked to promptly inform the media voters candidates and political parties about the action taken to avoid any misinformation or wrong public perceptionKakani said that while polling will take place at limited locations on December 20 counting across all municipal councils and nagar panchayats will be held on December 21 requiring close coordination among police and other agencies particularly after the declaration of results reported PTIHe also reminded officials that election campaigning through electronic or print media will not be permitted after 10 pm on December 19 the day prior to pollingIG Manojkumar Sharma said adequate security arrangements must be in place to maintain law and order on polling and counting days and stressed the need for timely communication of police action to the public reported PTIMahayuti Oppn MVA to faceoff on Jan 15 in Maha battle for Mumbai 28 other civic bodiesHighstakes polls to 29 municipal corporations including the cashrich Mumbai on January 15 will see the ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA battling it out for electoral supremacy in Maharashtras major urban centresThe poll schedule announcement was made by Maharashtra State Election Commission SEC on Monday in compliance of an order from the Supreme Court fixing January 31 next year as the deadline for holding the longpending local body elections in the stateThe court in September this year had also censured the SEC for its failure to take prompt action and adhere to earlier timelinesThe January 15 elections involving 2869 seats and over 348 crore voters set the stage for a crucial political showdown between the Mahayuti comprising BJP Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawarled NCP and the MVA coalition of Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena UBT Congress and Sharad Pawarheaded NCP SPThese are first municipal corporations postsplits in the Shiv Sena 2022 and the Nationalist Congress Party 2023 developments which reshaped Maharashtras politicsVotes will be counted on January 16 While one corporator will be elected from each seat in Mumbai 227 wards three to five corporators will get chosen by voters per ward in 28 other civic bodiesAfter the assembly polls old alliances too are taking new shape suiting local politics The phase one of local body polls saw an intense contest among Mahayuti partners with the Shiv Sena and the BJP slugging it out in several municipal council polls earlier this monthWith inputs from PTI