Maharashtra civic elections 2026: Door-to-door campaigning allowed till Jan 14

As the highdecibel public campaigning for 29 municipal corporations including Mumbai came to a halt at 530 pm on Tuesday Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare clarified that candidates are still permitted to conduct doortodoor campaigningThe candidates can do doortodoor campaigning on January 13 and 14 as the polling is slated for January 15 reported IANSNo rallies processions or loudspeakers groups limited to fiveWhile public rallies processions and the use of loudspeakers are now strictly prohibited candidates can engage in personal outreach provided they are accompanied by less than five peopleThe announcement caused a stir during a press conference with journalists questioning if this was a newly minted rule to favour certain candidatesRule in force since 2012 applied in Lok Sabha and Assembly pollsState Election Commissioner Waghmare firmly dismissed these claims citing a standing order from February 14 2012This is not a new order as it was applied during the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections Waghmare saidPersonal interaction allowed outside 100metre polling booth radiusPublic campaigning which includes rallies and meetings must end 48 hours before polling However personal interaction is not banned Candidates can visit homes or meet voters outside the 100metre radius of polling booths but they cannot use microphones or move in large groups he addedHe reiterated that no more than five people including the candidate per group can do doortodoor campaigningTotal ban on microphones sound systems cash distribution warned againstThere is a total ban on microphones and sound systems State Election Commissioner Waghmare saidThe State Election Commissioner warned that any distribution of cash or gifts is a criminal offence and is being closely monitoredAnalysts warn of disputes due to monitoring challengesCritics and political analysts suggest that allowing doortodoor campaigning could lead to a new wave of disputes between rival factions as monitoring individual house visits for model code of conduct violations is significantly more difficult than monitoring public ralliesPreliminary probe clears officials in Colaba nomination rowAddressing allegations that Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar prevented Opposition candidates from filing nominations in Colaba State Election Commissioner Waghmare said that a preliminary probe cleared election officials of wrongdoingWe reviewed the video footage Officials called out for applications multiple times before the 5 pm deadline We have requested additional footage to conclude the inquiry he addedSMS and electronic campaigning barred after campaign periodThe poll body has cited an order dated February 14 2012 to clarify that such personal contact does not amount to public canvassing and is subject to strict conditionsAs per the directive campaigning through electronic media including SMS is prohibited after the public campaign period endsOrder circulated to civic chiefs and collectorsThe order has been circulated to all municipal commissioners and district collectors for implementationReport sought in alleged cash distribution case in KalyanDombivliTo a query on the video allegedly showing cash distribution in Ward29 of the KalyanDombivli Municipal Corporation State Election Commissioner Waghmare said that he has sought a detailed report from the Municipal Commissioner Abhinav Goel regarding the incidentUnopposed wins under scrutiny certification pendingIn areas where candidates have won unopposed the State Election Commissioner is not yet ready to certify the resultsReports have been demanded to ensure no pressure or coercion was used against rivals no financial inducements were offered for withdrawals and the withdrawals were purely voluntary and free of police complaintsWith inputs from Agencies