MUMBAI: During Maharashtra assembly elections, voters in Mumbai will be not be allowed to carry mobile phones inside the polling booths at the time of voting, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani on Wednesday.
Elections for the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly will be conducted in a single phase on November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.Mumbai’s district election officer, Nitin Gagrani, announced several key updates during a press conference at the BMC headquarters.
Voters will not be allowed to bring mobile phones into polling stations. Gagrani clarified, “Mobile phones will not be allowed inside the polling stations…Voters should make their own arrangement in this regard before entering the polling station.” This issue was highlighted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) during a recent visit to address previous confusion during the Lok Sabha polls.
Mumbai comprises 36 assembly constituencies, with 10 in the island city and 26 in the suburbs. Vulnerable polling booths have been mapped, although none have been classified as vulnerable at this time. The final date for voter registration in Mumbai is October 19. Gagrani urged people to register before this deadline, as no changes will be made to the voter list afterward.
All agencies, including district collectors, will strictly enforce the model code of conduct that came into effect from the election schedule announcement. Polling stations will be equipped with essential facilities like water, wheelchair access, toilets, and seating. Auxiliary polling stations will be established where needed.
Necessary personnel for the electoral process have been identified and will undergo three rounds of training, with the first round already in progress. Political parties have been asked to help voters know the exact locations of their polling booths to ensure high voter turnout.
Gagrani held a meeting with representatives of all political parties to discuss the code of conduct and other issues. He noted that voters experienced long wait times during the Lok Sabha polls, stating, “Hence, we rationalised polling stations this time and also provided auxiliary polling stations, where there are more than 1,500 voters.”
ECI data indicates that Mumbai suburban district has 7,574 polling stations, with 553 in cooperative housing societies, 229 in slums, and 130 on the first floor of buildings. Mumbai city has 2,537 polling stations, with 100 in housing societies, 313 in slum areas, and 17 on the first floor of buildings.