The entire state, barring three districts — Mumbai city and suburbs and Thane — has come under the code of conduct from Monday as the State Election Commission (SEC) has announced the polls for 212 na
The entire state, barring three districts — Mumbai city and suburbs and Thane — has come under the code of conduct from Monday as the State Election Commission (SEC) has announced the polls for 212 nagar parishads (municipal councils) and nagar panchayats. Of them, for the first time the president of 192 nagar parishads will be elected directly. With the BJP-led state government completing almost two years of its tenure, the polls are being seen as a mid-term referendum for its rule.
The civic elections, to be held between November 2016 to January 2017, will be held in four stages — November 27, December 14 and 18 and January 8 — for 192 municipal councils and 20 nagar panchayats. They include 2,485 civic wards and 4,750 seats. Out of these there are 2,445 seats reserved for women, 608 seats for Schedule Castes, 198 seats for Schedule Tribes and 1,315 seats for the Backward Classes category.
State election commissioner J.S. Saharia announced the schedule for statewide elections, which will see the use of videography surveillance units, flying squads and check post squads to ensure free and fair polls. The election observers will also be deployed to monitor the filing of nomination papers and campaigning.
“During the code of conduct, which has immediately come into effect from Monday, the government cannot use official machinery and funds to issue advertisements highlighting its achievements. A strict check will also be kept on election-related campaign material on social media,” said Mr Saharia.
However, the code of conduct will not be applicable for Mumbai city and suburbs and Thane districts.
Furthermore, in districts, where elections will be held in less than four municipal councils, the code of conduct would be applicable only for those councils, not the entire district, he added.
The significant feature of these polls will be that in 192 municipal councils voters get the opportunity to elect council presidents directly.
There will also be reintroduction of multi-member civic wards, wherein the voters will cast one ballot to elect the president and other two to three votes to elect multiple members. Elections to the 20 nagar panchayats will be single member wards only where voters shall elect only one member per ward.
