Urban apathy has been a challenge for the Election Commission of India that persisted during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. To ensure that the trend is not repeated in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Friday pulled up officials from Mumbai, Thane, and Pune over low voter turnout and demanded a robust action plan to address the issue.
During his visit on Friday, Kumar met Divisional Commissioner, Konkan and Pune, Range IG-Konkan, district election officers, all commissioners of police, and superintendent of police in Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Pune and Palghar districts and other senior officials.
According to sources, the CEC asked the officials from Mumbai, Thane and Pune on their preparations for the assembly elections to fight urban apathy. They were also asked how they would engage more voters this time.
“The CEC expressed concern on urban apathy, saying they need a robust action plan to address it,” sources said.
Contrasting this with the impressive voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir and the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected Bastar region, he pointed out that if these sensitive areas could achieve high participation, there is no reason why urban centres with better infrastructure and access to information cannot follow suit.
“He directed DEOs and Municipal Commissioners (MCs) to intensify awareness efforts, engage youth in colleges and universities and ensure a stronger voter engagement in upcoming elections,” they added.
Kumar is in Mumbai with his team to review preparations in the state which is scheduled to go for polls in the next few weeks. While he met senior officials from certain districts and divisions on Friday, he will meet the remaining on Saturday.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Mumbai South central, Thane, Mumbai North Central, Kalyan and Mumbai South were among the worst performers in terms of voter turnout.
The poll body is likely to announce election dates for Maharashtra next month. The term of the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly will end on November 26.
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