Nagpur: Like a seasoned bureaucrat that he is State Election Commissioner (SEC) J S Saharia was answering to a question by the media personnel. Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis had made a declaration that Kalyan-Dombivali will be turned into smart city during a rally organized by the Kalyan-Dombivali Vikas Aghadi led by the BJP ahead of the crucial Municipal Corporation Elections on November 1.
The media personnel wanted to know what action will, the State Election Commissioner J S Saharia initiate against the Chief Minister when the Code of Conduct is in effect. To this State Election Commissioner claimed that he or his office has not received any complaints as yet against the Chief Minister.
However, he added that he will take suitable action if they receive any complaint. J S Saharia claimed that the office of the State Election Commission is very much active and they are keeping a vigil over various activities. If they receive any complaint and forward it to him, he will certainly take suitable action.
Earlier, he declared that the Election Commission has decided to have a common schedule for the revision / preparation of electoral rolls for Amravati Division and Nashik Division Graduates and Aurangabad Division and Konkan Division and Nagpur Division Teachers Constituencies of Maharashtra Legislative Council.
Accordingly, the electoral rolls of the above mentioned graduates and teachers’ constituencies shall be prepared with reference to November 1, 2015.
As the qualifying dates in accordance with the schedule given below and following due procedure and guidelines as contained in the Commission’s Comprehensive instructions for the Electoral Roles for Legislative Council issued vide its letter No 37/LC/2013-ERS dated May 27, 2013 and other subsequent instructions in the matter issued by the Commission from time to time.
The State Election Commissioner said that there was a demand to increase the number of representatives in a constituency. He said that in Maharashtra state there are over 28000 (approx) Local Governing Bodies and around 3 lakh representatives.
According to him 80% of the Local Bodies have their elections between the year 2016 and 2017. The process of making changes in the electoral roll/voter’s list will be held on October 8, 2015 to September 7, 2015.
Those who want to do the following will have to do it between the period of October 8, 2015 and September 7, 2015.
1. Register their names
2. Add Names, Change Names, Surnames etc
3. Change their address etc
4. Remove their names from old roll etc
He also claimed that there are discussions on about including the photographs of the candidates along with the party symbols. He said that once that is approved it will come into force.
He also added that there are discussions about increasing the number of ward representatives. He said that till date the Ward Member or representative were decided on the population of the area. This policy is reviewed once every 5 years. He said that the increase in the number of representative of the wards will be decided now since they calculate the number of representatives based on the total population of the entire nation.
The last census of the nation was undertaken in the year 2010 and the next census will be undertaken on 2021. No change in the number of representative will be made as yet. However, the State Government can make a decision on this issue.
