Maharashtra Assembly election: Administration expects 65-70% polling in Nagpur

* Booth-level Officers to distribute voter slips from today
* Eight constituencies to have two EVMs at each polling station as number of candidates is above 16
Staff Reporter
To increase polling percentage to the expected level of 65 to 70 per cent during Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for October 15, the district administration is taking several measures including voter awareness drive and distribution of voter slips. A special drive for distribution of voter slips is being taken up between October 3 and 10, informed Abhishek Krishna, District Collector and District Election Officer.
“Already, we have distributed voter slips to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in all 12 Assembly constituencies in the district. They have been asked to distribute the slips to voters in respective areas till October 10,” said Abhishek Krishna while addressing a press conference here on Thursday evening. All political parties and candidates have been informed in this regard and they also can distribute ‘plain’ voter slips without any mention of name, symbol of candidate or party. Even after October 10, the slips will be distributed to voters not covered till then, through a special drive on October 11. Further, BLOs will distribute the slips at respective polling stations on polling date -- October 15. He appealed to the appartment schemes and associations to allow BLOs into the schemes for distribution of slips or make arrangement at their level for distribution of the slips.
District Election Officer pointed out that Assembly elections held in 2009 had witnessed 55.81 per cent polling. It increased to 59.69 per cent in Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year. “We expect 65 to 70 per cent polling in Assembly elections this time,” he added.
Meanwhile, the final list of candidates remaining in the fray has been published. As per the district administration, a total of 211 candidates are contesting for 12 seats in the district. A total of 37,04,676 voters have been registered for the polls till September 17, 2014. Of a total 4,052 polling stations, 2151 are in six constituencies in Nagpur city and 1,901 in six constituencies in rural areas. The names of polling stations have been changed in 29 cases and buildings have been changed in 90 cases. Of the total number of polling stations, 19 are sensitive. Various teams have been constituted to keep a close watch on expenditure and campaign of candidates.
Replying to a question, District Election Officer said that 7,460 ballot units and 4,590 control units of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are required for the election. As against this, 10,000 ballot units and equal number of control units are available. Each ballot unit has space for 15 candidates and one space for ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option for voters. Wherever the number of candidates is more, additional ballot unit is attached. “Of a total 12 constituencies in the district, eight require two ballot units,” he said in reply to another question.
Interestingly, Nagpur South-West constituency has 16 candidates in the fray. Their names can be accomodated on one ballot unit. Hence, for NOTA option only, additional ballot units will be attached.
So far, Abhishek Krishna said, 12,072 applications have been received for postal ballot papers from the Government employees.
Ajay Ramteke, Deputy District Election Officer; Pramod Bhusari, Additional Deputy Municipal Commissioner; Shekhar Singh, Sub-Divisional Officer (Ramtek) and others were present in the press conference.

City’s badminton prodigy Arundhati is SVEEP brand ambassador

Arundhati Pantawane, international badminton star, has been roped in as Brand Ambassador for Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign to increase polling percentage in Nagpur district.

Arundhati, who won National tournament once and finished runner-up twice in International tournaments, is the fourth Indian badminton player to have got a place in top 50 of badminton players at international level. The district administration has roped in the Nagpur girl to motivate voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers. She will participate in special drive to be conducted on October 8 and 9, said Pramod Bhusari, Additional Deputy Municipal Commissioner.

3 cases of Code violation

So far, the district administration has registered three cases of violation of Model Code of Conduct for Legislative Assembly elections.

According to Ajay Ramteke, Deputy District Election Officer, one of the cases has been registered in Central Nagpur constituency in Nagpur city and remaining two in Saoner constituency of Nagpur rural. In Central Nagpur, Congress candidate Anees Ahmed and others have been booked for violation of Model Code of Conduct for taking out a rally without permission. In Saoner, Independent candidate Suresh Dongre is booked for similar violation. In the same constituency, another Independent candidate Sunil Pal has been booked for defacement of property.

As far as law and order situation is concerned, different actions including externment have been taken in 111 cases. Of a total 2,838 arms licences, 570 have been surrendered during election period. A total of 386 proposals have been received for preventive action.

Group Admin of WhatsApp etc to face action, if...

Abhishek Krishna, District Election Officer, said that the Group Administrator of group on WhatsApp, We Chat, or other social media will face action under the provisions of Information Technology Act if unauthorised post or uncertified advertisement of a candidate is circulated. “However, let me make it clear that any such action will be taken only if there is any complaint with specific details,” he added. Asked about bulk SMSes being sent by many candidates to voters in respective constituencies, Abhishek Krishna said that no such complaint was received in this regard so far. Media Certification and Monitoring Committee also has not received any application from any of the candidates regarding certification of such SMSes, he said. 

(03-10-14)