Exercise Your Right to Vote The General Elections to constitute the 16th LokSabhain India have been announced recently. Maharashtra will go to the polls in three phases on April 10, 17 and 24 for the forty eight Lok Sabha seats. The registration of new voters has been streamlined to ensure maximum voters registration. Simultaneously, precautionary measures are being taken to ensure enforcement of Model Code of Conduct in letter and spirit in the entire State. A total of 89,479 polling centres have been set up in 55, 907 places in Maharashtra for the 7.89 crore registered voters in the State. The Election Commission of India’s Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme has been effectively implemented through a vigorous media campaign to increase the voter turnout. Sitting at their home, the voters can now locate the polling booths through the website of Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra or get any other detail regarding the election process. The Government has geared up the law and order machinery in the State to prevent any untoward incident. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), State Police Force (SPF) and Home Guards will be deployed to strengthen the law and order and ensure free and fair elections. Maharashtra has a glorious history of free, fair and peaceful elections. Every citizen has the boundened duty to strengthen the democratic institution of the country. I appeal to all the voters to exercise their electoral franchise in large number with great enthusiasm.
J S Saharia Chief Secretary Maharashtra State
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 3 MAHARASHTRA Contents Ahead 5 Empowering Women’s 53 Conducting Elections
VOL.3 ISSUE NO.10 MARCH-APRIL 2014 `50 Leadership Smoothly - Smt. Neela Satyanarayana, - Prasad V. Kulkarni State Election Commissioner Editor-in-Chief 55 The Voting Procedure Pralhad Jadhav 7 We Need to Be Responsible Sowing the Seeds of Editor - Shri Nitin Gadre, CEO, Maharashtra 59 Kir Pande Democracy 9 Democracy’s Guardian Execu ve Editor - Smt. Neela Satyanarayana, Kri Lalla - Ajit Andhare State Election Commissioner Special Co-ordina on SVEEP - Eefforts to Increase New Weapons of Campaigning Shirish Mohod (State SVEEP Nodal Offi cer) 13 62 Voters Participation - Chandran Iyer Team Co-ordina on Edi ng Suresh Wandile - Shirish Mohod Evolution of Electoral System (Dy Director-Publica on) 64 - Anil Valvi Administra on Digamber Palve Understanding the Attitudinal (Sr. Assistant Director) 18 A Historical Perspective of Sales and Circula on Vilas Bodke Approach of Voters 67 (Assistant Director) General Elections - Shirish Mohod Produced by - Abhay Mokashi Maharshi Printers Private Limited 21 Action Plan for Changing Produc on Head: Prabhashanker Pandey Right to Reject Voters Approach 72 Consul ng Editor: Chandran Iyer - Dilip Sadhle
Art - Sangeeta Choughule Art Director: Mahesh Jadhav Nurturing Democracy Sr. Designer: Arvind Avaghade 24 Cover Design : Seema Ranalkar Through Voters’ Participation Cover Concept : Prof. Gajanan Shepal - Sunil D. Mali Maharashtra Ahead is printed on behalf of the Directorate General of Informa on and Public Inclusive Way of Strengthening Rela ons, Government of Maharashtra, at 27 Maharshi Printers Private Limited Democracy 112, New Tejpal Industrial Estate, Andheri-Kurla Road, Sakinaka, - Smt. Geetanjali Baviskar Andheri (E), Mumbai - 400 072. 9 30 Putting a Cap on Poll Spending Published by Pralhad Jadhav at Mantralaya, - Neelesh Gatne Mumbai-400032 Le ers should be addressed to 33 Delimitation of Constituencies Directorate General of Informa on and Public Rela ons, New Administra ve Building, 17th Floor, Lok Sabha Constituencies Opposite Mantralaya, Mumbai-400032. 34 Email: [email protected] At a Glance Please visit the website h p://dgipr.maharashtra.gov.in 42 Involving Youth in the Eelectoral Process 27 - Milind Saraf 44 Signifi cance of Ethical Voting - Chandran Iyer 46 Everything About E Voting Machine Directorate General of Informa on and Public Rela ons 9 49 Outlining the Proper Election A Government of Maharashtra Produc on Practices 42 - Shruti Ganapataye
Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the writers Empowering Women’s Leadership State Election Commission has launched a unique project to make the women in the local self government bodies mature in decision making and also to make them competent socially and politically, says Smt. Neela Satyanarayana, State Election Commissioner.
he Government of India, T by providing 50 per cent reservation to women in the Panchayat Raj system has taken the first step to make them competent. As many as 98,669 women are functioning as office-bearers in 27,896 Gram Panchayats. It is the constitutional responsibility of the State Election Commission to conduct free and fair elections in the local self government bodies. It has been seen that due Smt. Neela Satyanarayana, State Election Commissioner to social or family constrains, women did not dare to Councilors in Local Self Bodies taluka (Wardha), and Jawahar, contest election independently. for Effective Decision Making Mokhada taluka (Thane), Some of them after being and Governance so that these where 266 women trainees elected as a member of Gram competent women members were present. The training Panchayat could not handle come forward as role model and format was conceptualized their responsibilities freely become a source of inspiration by the State Election because of the family pressure. for the other women who Commissioner. Mumbai’s In most of the families, their aspire to participate in Ryan International Education family heads handles the future elections. The project Institute had offered financial responsibility of that post. has been named after great assistance. The Training Taking note of this fact, the social reformer ‘Kranti Jyoti’ format is: The Government State Election Commission Savitribai Phule as a tribute • Three days workshop . of India, by has launched a unique project to her contribution to women • Training in informal to make the women in the education. The project was atmosphere. providing 50 per local self government bodies launched with inspirational • Use of means like games,songs cent reservation mature in decision making and slogan ‘Amhi Saarya Jani’ i.e. and practical instead of to women in also to make them competent ‘We the Women’. textbook information. the Panchayat socially • Competent team of trainers Raj system has and politically. The project PILOT PROJECT (2010) from State to rural level. taken the first Kranti Jyoti has been The first training programme, • Stress has been given launched for Socio Political in coordination with on information related step to make Empowerment of Women Symbiosis, was held at Selu to functiuoning of Gram them competent
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 5 VOTE
Panchayat, social burning is available on www. THREE TIER issues, and personality krantijyotimaharashtra. TRAINING STRUCTURE development. blogspot.in. • The projects planning has State Level 50 Core been done by keeping in SUCCESS OF PROJECT Trainers mind the social binding. In the initial stage, training • Traning material has programme for women District Level been provided in the local councilors was successfully 500 District languages. conducted in ten districts of Trainers • Suceess stories of the women Kolhapur, Wardha, Pune, Taluka Level members also discussed Solapur, Satara, Sindhudurg, 20,000 Women to inspire newly contested Nashik, Thane, Amravati Councilors women members . and Nanded. Funds for the • Regular follow up programme programme were made at the end of training . The available by Zilla Parishad and State Election Commission KRANTI JYOTI district planning committee. had organised a training Socio Political As of date, training of 11,742 programme for chief trainers. Empowerment of women councilors has been Resource and Support completed. It has helped in Centre for Development Women Councilors enhancing their self confidence (RSCD) developed the in Local Self and efficiency. training programme for Bodies for Effective the implementation of the Decision Making and KRANTI JYOTI REVIEW… project, while the College Governance • Training of women of Social Work, Nirmala representatives from Thane Niketan had coordinated the district by Symbiosis in workshop. DISTRICT COORINDATOR January, 2010. AND FUNCTIONING OF • Training of women councilors SUBJECTS IN TRAINING CHIEF TRAINERS from Selu (Wardha) through PROGRAMME • Planning training workshops Symbiosis in April, 2010. • Functioning of Panchayat Raj for district level trainers and • Financial assistance by Ryan • Gram Panchayat budget providing training to them International in April, 2010. • Personality development and • Planning funds for district • State level chief trainer social illusions level projects training – December, 2010. • Superstitions and social • The training material includes • Launch of project in 10 issues and means to tackle chief trainers guide, panchayat districts on the occasion them raj functioning, geet malla, of Savitribai Phule’s birth • Success stories of women ordinance, poster, certificate, anniversary on January 3, • Discussion on local issues stationery, cloth bag. 2011. • Gender equality • The Kranti Jyoti presentation • Training of women councilors from Wardha and Kolhapur districts in April, 2012. 8 Taking note of the success 9 TARGET AREAS 10 Districts to be covered of the novel Kranti Jyoti 2 in the first phase: training programme of the 1 1. Thane 6. Sindhudurg Maharashtra Government, the Ministry of Panchayat 3 10 2. Nashik 7. Kolhapur 3. Pune 8. Amravati Raj has decided to implement 45 4. Satara 9. Wardha the programme countrywide 5. Solapur 10. Nanded under the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Empowerment. 7 6 This is the success story of the Kranti Jyoti programme.
6 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD We Need To Be Responsible The Election Commission has taken all the possible steps to ensure voters exercise their franchise in an easy manner, says Principal Secretary and the Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra Shri Nitin Gadre. ince independence, Election Commissioner addition/deletion of S India has espoused of India and Hon. Shri H. names from the voters democracy and election S. Bramha and Hon. Dr. lists, distribution of voters process has a unique place Nasim Zaidi are Election ID cards, responding to in a democracy. As the Commissioners. Every complaints on names election process has to be State and Union Territory in voters list and their strong and transparent, has Chief Electoral redressal come under the Election Commission of Officers (CEOs) through jurisdiction of the Election India was constituted on whom the Commission Commission of India. January 25, 1950. Shri conducts elections for the Collectors of every district Sukumar Sen took charge office of the President, Vice are the District Election as the country’s first Chief President, Rajya Sabha, Officers. Maharashtra Election Commissioner Legislative Assemblies State has 48 Lok Sabha on March 21, 1950. and Legislative Councils. and 288 Vidhan Sabha Presently Hon. Shri V. Similarly, preparation constituencies and voters Shri Nitin Gadre S. Sampath is the Chief of electoral rolls, lists are prepared for Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra
STATE AGE-COHORT WISE ELECTOR INFORMATION Name of State Maharashtra Year of Revision 2014 Total State Population in numbers (projected upto the year of current revision) 117669050 State Population of 18+ only (in numbers projected to year of current revision) 80298402
Age Cohort Projected Census %age to total Electors as per %age to total %age to 18+ Population in age Population currently revised population population cohort (Projected final electoral roll upto the year of 2014 current revision)
1 2 3 4 5 6 18-19 3894589 3.31 1075376 0.91 27.61 20-29 16829013 14.30 15055180 12.79 89.46 30-39 18073872 15.36 19220501 16.33 106.34 40-49 17299125 14.70 18190209 15.46 105.15 50-59 11516905 9.79 11984002 10.18 104.06 60-69 6889598 5.86 7250424 6.16 105.24 70-79 3828110 3.25 4052181 3.44 105.85 80+ 1967190 1.67 2138769 1.82 108.72 State Total 80298402 68.24 78966642 67.11 98.34
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S. No. Name of State Members each of them. Every assembly the roll on the Chief Electoral constituency has a Electoral Officer, Maharashtra’s website Registration Officer, and as www.ceo.maharashtra.gov.in. per the Act, he/she is entrusted Also, voters can search the with the responsibility of polling centres through GIS preparation of voters list. mapping on Google Maps. As per the final voters list As many as 89,479 polling published on January 31, 2014, stations at 55,907 places will there are 7.89 crore voters. be set up for Lok Sabha 2014 These include 4.18 crore male elections in Maharashtra and and 3.71 crore female voters. Central Reserve Police Force, Many people are unaware that Armed Police Force, State’s as per section 17 and 18 of Police Force and Home Guards the Representation of Peoples alongwith officials and staff Act, a voter should not have would be deployed during his/her name registered at the election for peaceful and more than one place. Hence fearless conduct of the polls. they procure voters ID card A special watch will be kept at by registering themselves sensitive and hyper sensitive afresh at their new place of polling stations. stay. This sometime results in A special project SVEEP a voters’ names being found (Systematic Voters’ Education registered twice or thrice. A and Electoral Participation) drive to remove such absent, has been undertaken to shifted or duplicate names increase voting percentage was conducted in the year in the urban areas of the 2013. However, if a voter State and also to increase has been registered in more participation of women in than one place, he/she the polling. UNION TERRITORY WISE should visit the concerned Election Commission has registration officer of the taken all posible steps to S. No. Name of State Members constituency and fill up support the voters. Youth Form No. 7 and such voters who have attained the age whose names do not figure in of 18 years should ensure the voters list should fill up that their names have been Form No. 6 to get themselves included in the voters list and registered. Citizens can get exercise their right to vote, information about the roll which has been conferred upon and search their names in by the constitution.
8 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Democracy’s Guardian Be it the State elections, general elections, or even electing the President or Vice-President of the country, there is only one body which has to execute this Herculean exercise - the Election Commission of India. Ajit Andhare gives an overview of it’s role and responsibilities.
lections are integral to the ELECTION COMMISSION Election Commissioners were E existence of democracy. OF INDIA AND ITS appointed. The concept of Holding an election year after CURRENT FORM multi-member Commission year, without violence or any The Election Commission of has been in operation since other malpractice, is in itself India (ECI) came into being then, with decision making a tough task. The challenge with India becoming a Republic power by majority vote. becomes Himalayan when i.e on January 26, 1950. Be The President appoints elections are to be held in a it State elections, general Chief Election Commissioner country politically as diverse elections, or even electing the and Election Commissioners. and complicated as India, the President or Vice-President They have a fixed tenure of world’s largest democracy. of the country, there is only six years, or up to the age It is not just about preparing one body which has to execute of 65, whichever is earlier. ballots and urging the voters this Herculean exercise - the They enjoy the same status to choose whom they want to. Election Commission of India. and receive salary and perks Ensuring that all necessary Originally the Commission as available to Judges of the rules and regulations are had only a Chief Election Supreme Court. The Chief followed by the stakeholders Commissioner. However, Election Commissioner can (political parties, candidates, currently it has a Chief be removed from office only media, etc.) involved in the Election Commissioner and through impeachment by the process is also of utmost two Election Commissioners. Parliament. importance. Thought against For the first time two According to Election this backdrop, it is needless to additional Commissioners Commission of India’s official say that the institution which were appointed in 1989 website, the Commission is tasked to hold and oversee but they had a very short has a separate Secretariat at this entire process has quite a tenure. Later, on October New Delhi, consisting of about task at its hand. 1, 1993 two additional 300 officials, in a hierarchical
Hon. Shri V. S. Sampath Hon. Shri H. S. Brahma Hon. Dr. Nasim Zaidi Chief Election Commissioner of India Election Commissioner of India Election Commissioner of India
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supervised, subject to overall superintendence, direction and control of the Commission, by the Chief Electoral Officer of the State, who is appointed by the Commission from amongst senior civil servants proposed by the concerned State Government. He is, in most of the States, a full time officer and has a small team of supporting staff. At the district and constituency levels, the District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers, who are assisted by a large number of junior functionaries, perform election work. They all perform their functions relating to elections in addition to their other responsibilities. According to set up. Systematic Voters’ Education During election time, however, the EC move, Two or three Deputy and Electoral Participation, they are available to the parties can no Election Commissioners SVEEP, Information Systems, Commission, more or less, on and Director Generals who Media and Secretariat Co- a full time basis. longer offer are the senior most officers ordination. The territorial The gigantic task force freebies to woo in the Secretariat assist the work is distributed among for conducting countrywide the voters Commission. They are general elections consists of generally appointed from nearly five million polling the national civil service personnel and civil police of the country and are forces. This huge election selected and appointed machinery is deemed to be by the Commission on deputation to the Election with tenure. Directors, Commission and is subject to Principal Secretaries, its control, superintendence and Secretaries, Under and discipline during the Secretaries and Deputy election period, extending Directors support over a period of one and half the Deputy Election to two months. Commissioners and Director Generals in turn. CHANGES OVER THE There is functional and YEARS territorial distribution of Holding free and fair work in the Commission. The separate units responsible for elections is not that easy. There work is organised in Divisions, different Zones into which was a time when violence was Branches and sections; each the 35 constituent States rampant during elections, of the last mentioned units and Union Territories of especially in the Hindi is in charge of a Section the country are grouped for heartland. Even today, though Officer. The main functional convenience of management. by and large elections are divisions are Planning, At the State level, violence-free, holding them in Judicial, Administration, the election work is Naxal-affected areas remains
10 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD a challenge. But the recent deploy paramilitary forces TECHNOLOGICAL It is the elections held in states like in sensitive areas, Seshan ADVANCEMENTS constant Chhattisgarh which witnessed forced candidates to take Paper ballots have become a an unprecedented voters’ the Election Commission’s thing of past now. It is nothing endeavour of turnout hold a testimony code of conduct seriously and short of a technological the Election to the fact that the Election strengthened its supervisory miracle that elections for the Commission of Commission of India leaves machinery. largest democracy of the world India to ensure no stone unturned to keep According to one claim, in wherein over a billion voters that elections violence at bay. Uttar Pradesh, where more vote, paper ballots are not are held in It was in 1991, that T N than 100 persons were killed used. It is feat which is yet to Seshan took helm at the in the 1991 elections, Seshan be achieved by many so-called free and fair apex poll body. Laxity in succeeded in reducing the big nations in the world. manner implementation of the poll number killed to two in the Paper ballots have been very laws with candidates blatantly November 1993 assembly effectively and permanently violating them had become elections by enforcing replaced with Electronic norm of the day. Over 350 compulsory deposit of all Voting Machines (EVMs). persons were killed during licensed firearms, banning However, this decision the 1991 poll campaign. unauthorized vehicular traffic, entailed a lot of discussion and Several candidates too were and supplementing local police debate questioning the efficacy killed. Against this backdrop, with paramilitary units. of these machines. One of Seshan’s appointment could From there it was no the most widespread doubts not have come at a better time. looking back. Once violence against the machines was By cancelling or repolling free elections became a norm whether the vote cast has been elections where improprieties rather than exception, the body registered against the desired had occurred, disciplining set its eyes on other issues like choice or not. There were errant poll officers, and technological upgradation. complaints that whichever fighting for the right to button a voter presses on the machine, the vote goes in List of Chief Election Commissioners favour of a particular political Name Took Office Left Office party or a candidate. However, to counter such allegations Sukumar Sen 21 March 1950 19 December 1958 and curb this menace, the Kalyan Sundaram 20 December 1958 30 September 1967 Election Commission of India S. P. Sen Verma 1 October 1967 30 September 1972 introduced the concept of 1 October 1972 1 paper trail. Officially called Nagendra Singh 6 February 1973 October 1972 voter verified paper audit T. Swaminathan 7 February 1973 17 June 1977 trail, it was first introduced in Mizoram state elections in S. L. Shakdhar 18 June 1977 17 June 1982 2013. Later on it also used the R. K. Trivedi 18 June 1982 31 December 1985 recently held Delhi assembly R. V. S. Peri Sastri 1 January 1986 25 November 1990 elections. Once a voter presses V. S. Ramadevi 26 November 1990 11 December 1990 the button of his choice on the T. N. Seshan 12 December 1990 11 December 1996 EVM, a paper trail appears for a few seconds. Thus, he can M. S. Gill 12 December 1996 13 June 2001 check whether the vote has J. M. Lyngdoh 14 June 2001 7 February 2004 been cast as per his preference T. S. Krishnamurthy 8 February 2004 15 May 2005 or not. Obviously, the paper slip B. B. Tandon 16 May 2005 29 June 2006 is collected back at the polling N. Gopalaswami 30 June 2006 20 April 2009 booth. However, the concept is yet to be implemented Navin Chawla 21 April 2009 29 July 2010 on a larger scale at the S. Y. Quraishi 30 July 2010 10 June 2012 national level. V. S. Sampath 10 June 2012... incumbent That’s not all. The Election
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information is collate and the respective ceilings of made available at the Election Rs 40 lakh and Rs 16 lakh, not Commission’s diligently feasible. The consensus at the maintained website. all-party meeting convened The Election Commission by the Election Commission of India, recently, has also has paved the way for an circulated draft guidelines to amendment of Conduct all the stakeholders regarding of Election Rules, 1961, to party manifestoes and raise the expenditure ceiling promises. According to the by nearly 30 per cent. The Election Commission move, candidate expenditure limit parties can no longer offer for Loksabha Elections is now freebies to woo the voters. Rs. 70 lakh. Also, they would have to spell Formulating and implem- out the rationale behind their enting new systems is a electoral promises. It also challenge as, at times the Election Commission of India Building, New Delhi wants the parties to elaborate Election Commission of the financial means for India meets with stiff At the State Commission of India has also implementing those promises. resistance from the level, the digitalized and computersied The Election Commission Government and political election work electoral rolls. Just a search of India had sought feedback parties who try to throw a rule of your name on its official from all the six national book at it all the time. The is supervised website will help you locate by the Chief your polling booth. To create, The Commission feels that a much higher level of maintain and update a digital Electoral Officer contribution in the field of Voter education and awareness of the State record of over a billion voters is due from the vibrant and resourceful Corporate Sector is indeed a gigantic task. of the country. I call upon them to include this under Corporate Social Responsibility of the Companies Act. LOTS TO LOOK We look forward to more synergy in future in advancing FORWARD greater participation of people in the electoral process. It is the constant endeavour Reinforcing Indian democracy through the process of of the Election Commission participative elections cannot be a task for Election of India to ensure that Commission of India alone. It has got to become a elections are held in free and national mission. fair manner. Also, there is - Hon. Shri V. S. Sampath, Chief Election Commissioner of India utmost accountability and transparency in this process. and 47 regional parties by Election Commission of India Therefore, the poll body has February 7, 2014 on the draft has earned both bouquets come up with a model code guidelines. and brickbats for its work of conduct which comes into Besides this, fighting an from all, but the Government force the day when elections election is a costly affair; hence and society at large has to are announced. Any deviation the poll body also seeks to understand that strengthening from its strict adherence can increase the limit on election the poll body is strengthening cost dear to the political party expenditure by the candidates. democracy. Only then India or the candidate. The Election Commission’s will have a Government, an Candidates are also move to raise the individual administration which can required to declare on poll expense limit for both fulfill aspirations of billions. affidavit their moveable and Lok Sabha and Assembly It is the only way the India non-moveable assets and elections was endorsed can become not only the criminal cases, pending or on February 4, 2014 by largest democracy, but also the ongoing, if any. It helps the almost all political parties, greatest. More power to the voter to take an informed which concurred that Election Commission is more decision. All the necessary inflation had rendered power to the people.
12 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD SVEEP: Efforts to Increase Voters Participation Explaining the details of Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation Programme Shirish Mohod, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer and State SVEEP Nodal Officer says, though the programme is being implemented by the Government, every citizen is expected to offer constructive support to strengthen Indian democracy, the biggest in the world and every Indian citizen should become a voter and exercise right to vote.
he Election Commission Commission. is 7.90 crore, which means the T of India (ECI) has Geographical and statistical Electoral - Population Ratio is undertaken an ambitious information from Maharashtra 98.34%. It also means that programme - SVEEP needs to be considered while nearly 100% of citizens who (Systematic Voters’ Education understanding the programme. become eligible to become and Electoral Participation) to voters after completing strengthen Indian democracy SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES 18 years of age have been by enhancing voters’ OF SVEEP registered as voters. The participation in the voting Following are the brief objec- SVEEP programme aims at by making them literate. The tives of the SVEEP undertaken achieving 100% registration Election Commission of India by the Election Commission of of voters so that no one who is has been making suggestions India eligible to be a voter is left out. and issuing guidelines on The Election SVEEP’s objectives and ELECTORAL - POPULATION VOTING PERCENTAGE planning to implement the RATIO As per the 2001 census, Commission programme during the five As per 2011 census, India’s the literacy rate of the total of India has year period 2013-2018. population is 121.02 crore, population of seven years and made financial Considering the fact that the while that of Maharashtra is above in Maharashtra stood assistance to programme would result in the 11.24 crore. This means that at 76.90%. It increased to all States for States incurring expenditure Maharashtra’s population 82.90 % in 2011 though the on the implementation of is 9.30% of the country’s national average was 64.80% implementing the programme, the Election total population. As per and 74% respectively. Even SVEEP Commission of India has given the population criteria, though Maharashtra’s literacy Programme financial assistance to all the Maharashtra ranks second States. after Uttar Pradesh. Of the total Conducting elections for Lok population of Maharashtra, Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Legislative urban area accounts for Assembly and Council 45.20% while that of rural members is the responsibility area is 54.80%. As per the of the Election Commission of projected population for 2014, India, while that for Municipal Maharashtra’s population Corporations, Zilla Parishads, is 11.73 crore. Of this, those Panchayat Samitis and with age of 18 years and other local self government above are 8.029 crore. In that bodies is of the State Election comparison, the total electorate Debate competition organised under SVEEP Programme
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 13 VOTE
MAHARASHTRA GEOGRAPHICALLY ratio in Maharashtra, as per concentrating on cane cutters the 2011 census, was 925 and of Beed district, beedi workers Total area of Maharashtra State (Sq Kms) 3,07,713 it was projected to 932 in 2014. in Solapur district, Badamadia Coastline (Km) 720 At the national level, this ratio tribals of Gadchiroli district, increased from 933 to 940. transgenders in Thane district Total revenue divisions 6 Maharashtra ranks 22nd in the and defence personnel in No. of districts 35 gender ratio. In comparison of Nashik district. Total no of talukas 358 projected 2014 gender ratio of 932, the population of women ELECTION PHOTO Total no. of villages 43,711 voters is only 887, which is IDENTITY CARD AND Municipal Corporations 26 not good for a progressive PHOTO ELECTORAL State like Maharashtra. The ROLL Municipal Councils 220 SVEEP programme aims at With a view of conducting Nagar Panchayats 12 achieving the population of smooth and transparent Zilla Parishads 33 women voters equal to the election, the Election gender ratio. Commission of India has Panchayat Samiits 351 implemented the Election Gram Panchayats 27,873 YOUTH VOTER RATIO Photo Identity Card (EPIC) for It appears that only 27.61% every voter. Earlier the Election Cantonment Boards 7 of the youth in the age Commission of India was group of 18-19 years of the only giving photo ID cards rate is good, the voting total population has been but the electoral rolls did percentage in the last Lok registered as voter. This not have the voters’ Sabha elections was only registration is expected to be photographs, which was 50 per cent. 100%. The programme aims making it difficult for voters’ Mumbai district’s literacy at 100% registration of youth identification. In view of this, rate is almost 90.90 per cent. as voters to increase youth’s the Commission has now However, the polling percentage participation in strengthening undertaken the programme in the last Lok Sabha elections Indian democracy. of having photograph of in Mumbai Metropolitan every voter in the electoral Region was about 40 per cent. DEPRIVED SECTIONS/ rolls and aims at achieving Even though Maharashtra is GROUPS 100% Election Photo literate educationally, it does Although Maharashtra is a Identity Card and Photo not translate when it comes to progressive State, there are Electoral Roll (PER). voting. The SVEEP programme some societies and groups aims to increase voting whose registration as voters URBAN APATHY percentage. is less than expected. It is While taking the review of SVEEP’s objective to increase figures of earlier elections, GENDER RATIO the representation of such it has been noticed that in The male to female gender society-groups as voters and is comparison of urban and rural voters and votes, there is less MAHARASHTRA’S POPULATION percentage of urban voters as Census 2011 2014 (Projected) well as votes. The SVEEP also intends to remove this apathy Population 11,23,72,972 11,72,91,577 from urban areas. Males 5,83,61,972 6,07,17,916 PLANS TO ACHIEVE Females 5,40,11,575 5,65,80,577 OBJECTIVES Females per 1,000 males 925 932 It is essential to plan out the Population of 18 yrs and above 7,62,56,299 7,94,44,170 means to achieve the set targets of the SVEEP Programme. Urban population ( %) 45.2 45.2 While doing so following steps Rural population (%) 54.8 54.8 are being taken.
14 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD PARTICIPATING STATE LEVEL INSTITUTIONS COMMITTEE The SVEEP programme is A State level committee under expected to be implemented the chairmanship of Chief across the State, especially Electoral Officer, Maharashtra, among youth, women, has been set up to review and deprived sections /groups and guide the programmes to be difficult regions. Already a undertaken by the district level number of welfare schemes are committee. This committee being implemented for every includes Administrative sector of the society by various heads of various Government Rally to create awareness among voters organised under departments of Government departments. The committee SVEEP Programme of Maharashtra. Accordingly, also includes institutions like the Government machinery is the NCC, NSS, NYKS and other every university has been in place to reach right down to Government organisations. made ‘Campus Ambassador’ to village level. Hence, there is no increase this ratio. Principals need to launch an independent EDUCATIONAL of every college have been agency to undertake SVEEP INSTITUTIONS AND appointed as SVEEP Nodal programmes. Instead, State CAMPUS AMBASSADORS Officers. Besides, these and district level department Being a progressive State, principals have been directed and other government/non- Maharashtra has a number to appoint meritorious government machinery have of educational institutions, and interested students as been made partners in the boards, and universities. A campus ambassadors. They SVEEP programme. special campaign has been have been entrusted with the undertaken to enhance responsibility of ensuring that DISTRICT LEVEL participation of youth. The every student in the age group COMMITTEE number of youth voters in the of 18-22 years is registered At district level, a committee 18-19 year age group, when as a voter. This will result in comprising heads of various compared to their population, increasing the registration of department like rural is less. Hence, registrar of eligible youth as voters. development, urban develop- ment, social justice, tribal, women and child welfare, WOMEN ENROLLMENT industry and labour, coopera- In view of the fact the number of women voters in tion, information and publicity, the total electorate is less, help is being taken from boards and other departments organisations working in women’s sectors. The lower has been constituted. This percentage of women voters has been attributed to committee, besides Government certain traditions, male dominated culture, lack of departments, also include literacy among women. Efforts are on to tackle these issues. Hence, for increasing women enrollment in the representatives of various election process, under SVEEP door to door survey institutions under the Central was carried out by Anganwadi Sevikas, Aasha workers. Government like banks, post Messages were given to all representatives to enroll all offices, industrial organisations, eligible women electors, maps of polling areas were NCCs, NSSs and other NGOs. prepared so that no house was left and at the meetings An appeal has been made to of the Mahila Bachat Gat Form 6 was distributed. all Government departments The women’s Self Help Groups, which have penetrated The SVEEP to include this programme as deep into the villages, through them, women in villages programme and when other schemes are are informed about the democracy through regular aims at being implemented. The district dialogues. Special efforts are taken through Anganwadis achieving level committee would decide to educate women to become voters. These efforts programmes and projects to be have definitely helped to increase women enrollment. 100 per cent taken up by various agencies in Besides these, exhibitions, rangolis, food competitions registration are organised to increase women ratio in elections. the district. of voters
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 15 VOTE
Through INDUSTRIAL POST OFFICE State transport buses, railway SHGs women ORGANISATIONS Like the banks, post offices too station, bus depots, hoardings, in villages Maharashtra is one of the have their branches in distant mobile vans like mediums are leading industrial States. A places in Maharashtra. The being extensively used. are informed large number of public sector postal department machinery about the and private industries exist too can contribute in creating PROMINENT democracy in the State. Cooperation of awareness about democracy PERSONALITIES through industrial organisations and among the voters. It has been Appeals through from regular MIDC has been sought so decided to make maximum use prominent personalities dialogues that maximum registration of of the department to reach the from Maharashtra are being organised and unorganised masses through their postal requested to encourage workers is ensured and that material. the public for registering they are encouraged to exercise themselves as voters and to their franchise. Industrial CIVIL SOCIETY enhance their participation in establishments have been ORGANISATIONS the election process. Appeals directed to grant paid leave A large number of Civil Society to the general public have to every worker, organised Organisations (CSO) and Non been made through noted or unorganised, on the day of Government Organisations nuclear scientist Dr Anil polling. (NGOs) are coming forward Kakodkar, social activist to create awareness among couple Dr. Mandakini and BANKS the voters through social Dr. Prakash Amte, litterateur Banks exist not only in every work. These CSOs and NGOs, Madhu Mangesh Karnik, village in Maharashtra but also on directives of the Election actress Mrunal Kulkarni, in difficult regions also. Hence, Commission of India, are being actor Pandhrinath alias Paddy their cooperation is being made partners. As of date, Kamble, retired IAS officer sought to implement SVEEP around 100 such organisations Aziz Khan, world champion programme. The banks have have been made partners in shooter Rahi Sarnobat, been urged that they undertake the programme. Their work in Olympian Veerdhawan Khade awareness programmes propagating the importance and Dr Tatyarao Lahane, Dean, through their branches and of democratic process among J. J. Hospital. We are proud publicity departments. the public, without seeking to note that Dr. Kakodkar any financial assistance, is is the Padmavibhushan and STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON laudable. However, a written Maharashtra Bhushan Awardee ELECTIONS (MAHARASHTRA) guarantee is sought from them and Dr. Amte, Mr. Karnik and Lok Sabha constituencies 48 that they are not associated Mr. Lahane are Padmashri (Rajya Sabha members 20) with any political party or any Awardees. Assembly constituencies 288 political party worker, directly (Vidhan Parishad Members – 78) or indirectly and that they YOUTH VOTERS No. of polling centres 89,479 would not undertake their The low percentage of youth Registered voters (as on 1.1.2014) 7,89,66,642 publicity. participation is due to mainly Male voters 4,18,41,934 fierce competition in today’s Female voters 3,71,24,438 MEDIA era, ignorance about process Other voters (transgender) 270 Even though cooperation from of registering themselves as E P Ration (%) 67.33 the Government and non- voters, more emphasis on 18 + EP ratio (%) 99.40 government organisations is education and employment Gender ratio 887.25 being taken, the media will still etc. Hence, their awareness is Ratio of 18-19 years age-group 3.96 play a major role in propagating essential and therefore, population in proportion to total the importance of democracy a ) Meetings, Workshops population (%) to the public. Hence, the use Special discussions, symposia Ratio of 18-19 age group voters in 1.35 of print and electronic media are organised to enlighten the proportion to total population (%) is being made. Radio, TV, youths. Electoral Photo Identity Card –EPIC (%) 91.42 daily newspapers, cinema, b) Programmes Photo Electoral Roll—PER (%) 90.32 cable TV, malls, multiplexes, The youth are being made
16 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD aware of the democracy through elocution and debate competitions at college level. Besides, efforts are also made to increase their numbers as voters through sports competitions, rallies.
URBAN APATHY Majority of people living Cultural programmes organised under SVEEP in urban areas are well off socially and financially. They keertans on the importance of Hence, special attention is The SVEEP are not much concerned about democracy. being paid towards this aspect. aims to which government comes to b) Gram Panchayat c) Youth Voter increase power, as they feel it would not Democracy is being propagated Of the total population on have much impact on them. through gram panchayats, 1.1.2013, the youth voters participation It is because of this feeling, meetings. of 18 to 19 years of age were of deprived they take advantage of leave c) Cooperative Societies 0.75 %. During the last period sections/ on the polling day and go An awareness is being created of 2013-2014, record setting groups on holiday tour instead of through the cooperative 8.25 lakh youth voters in casting their votes. This results societies in the rural areas. the age group of 18-19 years in lesser voting in urban have been added. With this areas. To tackle this issue, DEPRIVED SECTIONS/ addition, as on 1.1.2014, they a) Hoardings at Particular GROUPS are now 1.35% of population in Spots There is a special focus on the roll. The expected objective Hoardings are being put up on the deprived sections-groups has not been achieved yet. main conrners and squares on in five districts. A direct Hence, special efforts are being busy traffic roads to highlight dialogue is being established taken in this area. the importance of becoming a with the society and groups by d) EPIC & PER Ratio voter and casting votes. organising meetings at such As on 1.1.2013, the EPIC ratio b) Publicity places and efforts are made to was 85.62%., while the PER Urban voters are being bring them into the democratic ratio was 81.59%. Which is educated through TV, cable process. now on 1.1.2014 91.42% and and electronic media. For 90.32% respectively. urban voters messages OUTCOME OF SVEEP Considering the above are put up on social media a) 18+ EP Ratio results, the SVEEP II like facebook, twitter and As per the voters list of 1.1.2013 programme is definitely SMSs to overcome the the EP Ratio which, as per proving out to be a huge urban apathy towards the 2009 census was 96.61%, success. And in the comming voting. is now 98.34%. During the years we are sure that the revision of electoral rolls, the targeted objects would be RURAL VOTERS names of duplicate and bogus achieved. We appeal to all Ignorance about the voters’ were deleted. Also, that though the programme democratic process, high under the SVEEP programme, is being implemented by the rate of illiteracy, poor living a large scale awareness State Government, every standards and lack of means of campaign is being undertaken. citizen is expected to offer transport and communication This would definitely result in constructive support. This are the factors resulting in higher percentage in voting. will further strengthen Indian lower percentage of voting. b) Gender Ratio democracy, the biggest in the a) Folk Art The voting percentage of world. Keeping this mind, The rural folks are being women when compared to total every Indian eligible citizen enlightened through electorate is still less, expected should become a voter and traditional bhajans and results have not yet achived. exercise their right to vote.
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 17 VOTE Understanding the Attitudinal Approach of Voters To identify the gaps in previous voters’ education interventions as well as in obtaining a deeper insight into the psyche of the target audience, the Baseline study on the Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviour, Belief and Practices of the voters in the State was carried out, says Deputy Chief Electoral Officer and State SVEEP Nodal Officer, Shirish Mohod.
oters’ participation in candidates or their associates polling centres have been V the democratic and to influence vulnerable selected. If the constituency electoral process is integral to sections of electorate. spreads in both the rural the successful running of any To identify the gaps in and urban areas, in such democracy and the very basis previous voters’ education constituencies one polling of wholesome democratic interventions as well as in centre from rural and urban elections. Thus, it becomes obtaining a deeper insight areas each has been selected an integral part of election into the psyche of the target with simple random sampling management. Voter is the audience ,the Baseline study method. If the constituency central actor in democratic on the Knowledge, Attitude, is spreads only in urban or election. There is little of Behaviour, Belief and Practices rural areas, in such cases two gap between what the voters [KABBP] of the voters in the polling centres have been ‘should know’ and what they State was carried out . As per selected by simple random ‘actually know’ in important the directions of the Election sampling without replacement areas like registration, EPIC/ Commission of India, the method. Accordingly, in all identity proofs, Polling Station Directorate of Economics and 576 Polling centres have been location, use of EVMS, timings Statistics (DES) was entrusted selected. of the poll, dos & don’ts to do a survey of Electors on with regard to Model Code various aspects. Accordingly SELECTION OF VOTERS of Conduct, use of money/ the DES did the survey and From each polling centre muscle and liquor power, by submitted their detailed report 2 male and 2 female voters in of the survey to the Chief the age group of 18 to 25 years Electoral Officer, Maharashtra and 3 male and 3 female voters State. The survey results are having age above 25 years based on the data collected have been selected by simple from 2,645 rural and 3,115 random sampling method urban sample voters from by using sampling random 288 Assembly constituencies number table. Accord-ingly, in the State. Here are the 10 voters from each polling important findings of this centre totaling to 5,760 voters survey. The Baseline Survey have been selected. KABBP was conducted during the period of 15th to 25th EPIC/VOTER ID June, 2013. • Of the total registered voters From each State Legislative in the State, 91 per cent voters Assembly Constituency, two are having Voter’s card.
18 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD • The major reason for not omic status) of about SOURCE OF AWARENESS
having voter’s card is that 62 per cent voters is less Doordarshan 61 voter did not get information than 1 lakh. Newspaper 57 Posters hoarding & 37 when they are making. • About one-third sample Publicity materials • Family members of about voters are having Labourer Local cable TV 17 College educations 13 per cent of voters are not / cultivators/ Agricultural Institutions 10 enrolled as voters. and allied activities as their Govt. offices 8 Private satellite channel 7 • About one-third sample occupation. NGO & Civil Society group 5 voters reported that lack • About one-fourth sample All India radio 5 of valid documents as the voters are BPL ration card FM channel 4 reason of non enrollment of holders. Any other 3 their family members. Video Vans 2 • About 81 per cent voters VOTER EDUCATION AND 0 50 100 reported that, long procedure CAMPAIGN was the main problem • About 63 per cent voters were MOST APPEALING/MOTIVATING CONTENTS witnessed for getting EPIC. not aware of voter / election • About 57 per cent voters related campaign of Election Your votes is invaluable, use it wisely My vote my future reported Ration Card as Commission of India. Proud to be a voter ready to vote an alternative ID used for • The most effective Say yes to vote and no to note voting. source of election related About 72 per cent voters messages / information was Stand up you are 18 reported that, local persons Doordarshan followed by Know your BLO visited to their house to help Newspaper. 02040 for enrollment • ‘Your Vote Is Invaluable, Use It Wisely’ is the most appealing market places, bus stand Out of the total RESPONDENT’S PROFILE / motivating message. etc. Besides the rallies and registered • Maximum numbers of • The main places where the vans giving messages related constituencies (75) are in respondents have seen the to registration and voting sample voters Konkan Division. educational message posters systems are also seen by the the proportion • The Annual Income (Econ- are near Government offices, voters. of voters reporting REVENUE DIVISION WISE NUMBER OF SAMPLE VOTERS reason of Rural Urban State Marital Status voting as “it Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons was my duty / Never married 31 14 22 38 23 31 35 19 27 right” was 70 Currently married 68 78 74 61 71 66 64 74 69 Widowed 1 8 4 1 6 3 1 7 4 Divorced/ separated 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
REGIONWISE PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLE VOTERS BY MARITAL STATUS Rural Urban State Division Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Konkan 225 225 450 525 525 1,050 750 750 1,500 Nashik 253 266 519 209 212 421 462 478 940 Pune 294 304 598 282 280 262 576 584 1,160 Aurangabad 220 231 451 235 234 469 455 465 920 Amaravati 157 155 312 145 143 288 302 298 600 Nagpur 161 154 315 160 165 325 321 319 640 State 1,310 1,335 2,645 1,556 1,559 3,115 2,866 2,894 5,760
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 19 VOTE
Registered Non registered REASONS FOR NOT ENROLLED VOTERS EXPERIENCE AT 13% 13% THE POLLING BOOTH 29% 13% 22% 1% 3% Lack of awareness Very Much 23% Lack of intrest Good
Not So Good Lack of valid document 2% Not At All Lengthy procedure Can’t Say Not permanent resident 87% 33% 61%
ELECTION EXPERIENCE Difficulties Faced
• About 62 per cent voters reported that their experience in last No separate queue for senior citizen 44
assembly election and at the polling booth was good. Long queue 40
• About 66 per cent voters reported that there was no security threat Lack of facility including drinking 31 at all during election. water/toilet/ramp Difficulties in getting my voter slip 24 at facilitation centre No guidance from polling personnel 17
Difficulties in locality my 16 polling station REASONS FOR NOT VOTING Any other Specify 9 My name was not on electoral roll Coercion/threat by political-party 55 booth operator 5
Did not have electoral photo ID Card 42 0 20 40 60
I was not in my constituency 8 I just did not want to vote as nothing will change 3 • About 44 per cent voters reported that there I did not voter slip even on polling day at the booth 2 was sufficient deployment of police force.
There was no good candidate 1 • About 95 per cent of voters did not face any
Polling station was at distance 1 difficulty in voting. (had transportation logistic problem) 1 No faith in political system (or electoral democracy) VOTING INFLUENCES 1 Long queue and did not have time • The baseline survey on Knowledge, Attitude, 1 Did not know my polling station Beha-viour, Belief and Practices (KABBP) 0102030405060 shows that 80 per cent of sample voters cast their vote in last election. • The highest turnout was reported in Yavatmal district and the lowest in Wardha district. REASONS OF VOTING • Out of the total registered sample voters the It was my duty/right 70 proportion of voters reporting reason of voting Candidate was good 27 as “it was my duty / right” was 70. Because of repeated appeal and advertisement by 15 Election commission • The proportion of voters reported that they Head of family said to vote 15 have voted because of repeated appeal and I got registered in electoral roll 14 advertisement by Election Commission was 15. Because of enabling environment (Free and Fair) 14 created by Election commission • Of the total sample voters who have not I am Political party sympathizer 13 voted, the proportion of voters reported that I got my vote slip 10 they have not voted as their name was not on
Wanted to defeat a particular candidate and/or 7 electoral roll were 55. a political party Influenced by friends 6 • Of the total sample voters who have not
Candidate visited me 5 voted, the proportion of voters reported that Candidate was of my choice and form 3 they have not voted because they did not community and religion Any Other (Specify) 1 have electoral photo ID card was 42. Casted vote due to threat or coercion 1 • The most influencing factor that affected the
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 voting preference was the candidate, while family was at second position.
20 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Action Plan for Changing Voters Approach The apathy of the voter costs the country dearly as undeserving candidates, criminals and goons get elected. It is this passiveness towards politics which is responsible for horse trading, nepotism, blatant corruption among other goings on in the power corridors of the elected representatives. But SVEEP initiative is playing a big role in changing the trend, says Sangeeta Choughule, Deputy District Election Officer of Kolhapur.
ne of the biggest have a poor voter turnout. (CRI), an internet-based O challenges facing the Even Bangladesh, a relatively subsidiary of Kovai Media Indian democracy is voter’s new country with dodgy record Private Limited (KMPL), apathy and indifference. This has a better voter turnout Coimbatore says “if one looks attitude results in poor voter compared to India. at the voter turn out for the turnout at the time of election The Centre Right India last four Lok Sabha elections, and does not augur well for the democracy. In fact the range of voting turnout across States, and variations in the same State in different elections, is so large that it defeats any quick analysis. The common refrain for avoiding to exercise electoral franchise is utter cynicism against the politicians and the government. “ Why should I waste my time voting when I know all the politicians are of no use or “ the whole system is corrupt and nothing is going to change” is the common attitude. It is easier to hold the political class guilty and refrain from voting rather than making an informed choice. Many prefer to treat Election Day as a holiday. In fact if we compare that to some other democracies that follow the Parliamentary system of governance for example the UK, Sweden or Belgium we will see that we
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 21 VOTE
turnout by way of motivation; OBJECTIVES OF THE SVEEP photo inclusion in the electoral • To register every male and female above the age of 18 years as per the census figures as voters. roll; issue of EPIC; and ethical • Planning means to end disparity among the males/females as voting. per the census data and the voters list. In Maharashtra for the past • Recognising new eligible voters in the 18-19 age group. three years, this drive is being • To remove disparity in registering of urban voters. undertaken from the level of • Efforts to increase the ratio of youth voters (male-female) form 35-40 per cent to 80 per cent. Chief Electoral Officer, to booth • Building confidence among the group of voters, who are level officials at the village level. deprived from voting or kept away, by involving them in the Currently, the SVEEP Phase II electoral process. is on. The second phase for a • Building moral confidence among voters to participate in five-year duration (2013-2018) impartial and fearless electoral process through a planned scheme. began from April 1, 2013. As • Increasing voting percentage in the next Lok Sabhe elections. compared to Maharashtra’s • Facilitating postal ballot for jawans on the borders, defence population and the registered personnel, para military forces. voters, the population in 2014 is around 11,76,69,050 one will notice that Indian Election Commission of India (inclusive of boys/girls under SVEEP is a voter turn out has hovered to adopt a sustained and 18 years of age) and the around the 58% mark and this Systematic Voters Education total voters are 7,89,66642, programme has been the trend since the and Electoral Participation which is 67.11 per cent. of multi birth of the republic, give or (SVEEP) strategy to increase Registering all those above intervention in take a few percentage points. people’s participation in the the age of 18 years as voters different modes In fact 63.75% voter turn out electoral process. SVEEP is essential to strengthen and mediums the highest ever so far was is basically an election democracy. The number of designed to recorded in 1957 followed by management operation aimed women per 1,000 population the second highest of 63.53% at increasing enrolment of in Maharashtra is 932, which increase voters in 1984”. eligible citizens in electoral list means that same number of awareness This has prompted the and motivate every registered women should be reflected in voter to vote by invoking the voters list. various communication The campaign has been interventions and targeted chalked out at State and programmes. It is a programme district level through youth of multi intervention in organisations, government’s different modes and mediums information and publicity designed to increase voters department, educational awareness. This participation institutions and universities to in the electoral process is ensure maximum participation designed according to the of the public. The plan has been socio-economic, cultural and finalised under the stewardship demographic profiles of the of Chief Electoral Officer, State as well as the history of Maharashtra, Shri Nitin Gadre electoral participation. and different projects are being The SVEEP undertakes the implemented in every district following activities: Dissemin- and, in fact, among various ation of Information, Motiva- social structure, culture and tion Message, and Approach geographical characteristics in (Strategy). The main objectives every constituency. They have include increasing the been given freedom to make registration of voters, specially the scheme a success. It is a fact women, newly eligible voters, that disabled, transgenders and youth and socially marginalised migrating people have always Rahi Sarnobat, World Champion Shooter sections; improving the voter been left out of the voters lists
22 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD for some reason or the other. Efforts are also being made to register such voters and efforts are getting positive response from the public. Children in the age-group of 14-17 years, who will be the future voters, are being enlightened with the electoral process. In addition to this “Voters’ Help Centres” have been opened in every taluka to provide maximum help to the voters. The SVEEP campaign aims at attracting maximum people to register as voters till the elections are announced. Some sections of the educated class often try to keep themselves out of the electoral process. Hence, implementing SVEEP is a bigger challenge before the officers at regional level. The electoral machinery in Maharashtra is making all of operations of plans is a out efforts through posters, paramount aspect in planning • Imparting voting awareness is not only a right radio, TV, essay competition, process. More advertising is but a responsibility towards National Cause to processions, SMS campaigns, not going to bring any output propagate democracy. • Slogans like “You have every right to choose NGOs, lectures in schools- to the neglected and uncovered your leader by vote” make the difference to colleges to make the campaign voters. What is needed is sensitise the people. a success. It is the cumulative specific approach, with • If you do not consider anyone as appropriate result of all these efforts that specific mode, with specific candidate you can contest elections yourself. around 8.25 lakh youth voters language by specific people. • Democracy is a real ornament of our country. in the age group of 18-22 years For instance to cover nomadic have been registered during women voters, advertising or the period of one year across display of hoardings or wall franchise is through “Ukhana” It is the the State and this number will painting with slogans have (poetic way of introducing cumulative continue to rise. failed to deliver the results. husbands name), organising result of the No doubt we are living in Hence in people approach Mangala Gouri, clippings and an era of technology more method, key people who can advertisements on local cables, efforts taken importantly an IT world. plan at their own level using jingles on all ST bus stands, under SVEEP However, still it is difficult their own resources like school drama competition on that around to trace, track and cover NGO’s, co-operative societies, election procedure etc. 60 lakh all the eligible voters due who can devise process and Overall, by implementing new voters to many reasons including set procedure to make an the SVEEP at district level, will have been geographical, cultural, socio- awareness campaign and definately motivate the voters economic issues. perform to motivate register to exercise their franchise to registered There is a need of proper the names of uncovered should increase the poll percentage. across the planning, innovative be identified. Because of the efforts of the State ideas in the whole process A good way of creating district administration under of awareness creation, awareness among the rural SVEEP, the voters’ turnout developing proper schedule of woman about the need for percentage will definitely events and preparing calendar exercising the electoral increase.
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 23 VOTE Nurturing Democracy Through Voters’ Participation Every citizen above the age of 18 years should get enrolled as voter and maximum people should participate in voting without any inducement, allurement or threat says, Sunil D. Mali Deputy District Election Officer, Ahmednagar.
lection is the time when years should get enrolled as launched. E the people can express voter and maximum voters SVEEP paved the way for their disenchantment with should participate in voting the electoral machinery to the people in power and vote and should do so without any build numerous partnerships. for a change. This aspect is inducement, allurement or Main strategies as follows: the cornerstone of a vibrant threat. democracy. The foundation of It is important to INVOLVEMENT the Election Commission of remember that though voters OF EDUCATIONAL are ‘supreme’, real power INSTITUTES stems from their being The Electoral Registration enlightened citizens. More Officer and Assistant Electoral the number of enlightened Registration Officers took the voters, better the selection of meetings of all the principal their representatives. Voting of the colleges and gave a stimulates public participation plan of action for registration in the democratic process. of students who will be But not much was being done completing 18 years of age to enthuse the voter till these on 1.1.2014. Electoral Regist- elections. A large section ration Officers and Assistant of society was not much Electoral Registration Officers interested in participating in firstly briefed the students India was laid in the belief that election. Lack of services and about the importance of a strong democracy mandates poor facilitation led to poor registration as a voter and all eligible citizens becoming enrollment. voting in the coming elections. voters and then ethically The biggest challenge Form 6 was given to each participating in elections. The was to make each voter student and the filled forms Election Commission of India understand the value of one’s were collected and given to (ECI) gave the slogan “Greater vote. We should accept this concerned Booth Level Officers Participation for a Stronger challenge to project voting as for verifying the details and Democracy”, galvanizing the one’s responsibility towards including their names in the entire State machinery to society. For the first time ever, Pink Pads. A coordinator was The Election launch numerous initiatives to emphasis was laid on voters’ appointed in every college who Commission of translate the slogan into ground education and empowerment formed a team with student India gave the reality. A robust electoral in the summary revision volunteers. A help desk was slogan “Greater system is the foundation of programme. set up in all the colleges and democracy and voters are like To this end, a campaign drop boxes were also placed. Participation bricks in the foundation. It ‘Systematic Voters Education NSS and NCC worked as lead for a Stronger is thus imperative that every and Electoral Participation’ agencies and facilitator for Democracy” citizen above the age of 18 nicknamed SVEEP was voter registration.
24 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD VOTER AWARENESS PARTNERSHIP WITH responsibilities. SVEEP paved PROGRAMMES PSUS, NGOS AND CIVIL the way for A large number of cultural SOCIETY PRODUCTION OF AUDIO programmes highlighting Several banks and other AND VIDEO MATERIALS the electoral the essence of democracy organizations namely SBI, Making use of the photographs machinery to and importance of voter’s PNB, BOB, BSNL, Allahabad and video clippings from build numerous registration and voter’s Bank, associated themselves districts of Maharashtra, partnerships participation were organized actively in the voters’ several publicity films on voting in universities and colleges by registration programmes. were developed which were students. They had set up Voters’ Help subsequently used for voters’ Desk in their branches. The Art awareness programmes. BRAND AMBASSADOR of Living, Social organization Chief Electoral Officer participated in a big way for NATIONAL VOTERS appointed well known Marathi motivating the youths in voter DAY PLAN actors Mrunal Kulkarni, Paddy registration. The Election Commission Kamble as brand ambassadors has declared 25th January as for motivating the citizens HOUSE-TO-HOUSE VISITS ‘National Voters Day’ to mark for registration as voters. BY BLOS the importance of voters in Along with these actors well Booth Level Officers (BLOs) Indian democracy. Public known scientist Anil contacted voters at their functions were organized at all Kakodkar, well known Eye doorsteps for identification of polling station locations and surgeon and social activist the left-out voters, registration ERO and AERO offices with Dr Tatyarao Lahane also took and spreading awareness main function at Collector initiatives through different about their rights and offices. advertisement campaign for improving registration percentage in the State. An innovative initiative, it led to a definite and positive increase in voters registration.
VOTERS’ HELP CENTRES In all tehsils of Maharashtra, Voter Help Centres were established. Voters Help Centres, provided substantive and one-stop solution to all registration woes; for instance, inclusion of voters, EPICs etc.
PARTNERSHIP WITH MEDIA/ ASSOCIATES A focussed media campaign in print, radio and electronic was launched in a big way. Numerous radio jingles and TV commercials became popular among masses. Along with this all the Cinema Houses broadcast voter registration advertisements during break as well as before the start of the movie.
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 25 VOTE
Cultural IT BASED FACILITATION all the cell users of BSNL for INVOLVEMENT OF programmes The Election Commission registering their name in the VILLAGE LEVEL of India is committed to voters list. FUNCTIONARIES highlighting facilitating participation All the village level officers like the essence by citizens in the electoral FOCUS ON WOMEN talathi, gramsevak, mandal of democracy process. Under the ‘Public Focus on the women, adhikari, anganwadi sevikas, and importance Grievance Redressal System orientation sessions for vistar adhikari along with of voter’s (PGRS)’, any citizen can the grassroots level women police patil, sarpanch and all registration register his grievances which workers like anganwadi’s, grampanchayat members were are monitored online. Asha’s, ANM’s and primary involved in voter registration and voter’s school teachers were conducted campaign. participation SMS CAMPAIGN to further sensesitize the rural were organized Taking advantage of women. The names of these STATISTICAL ANALYSIS in universities already available database women were checked in the After declaration of 2011 and colleges of two lakh eighty nine voters list during house to census figures the special thousand cell phone users house survey. Form 6 was drive was conducted to of BSNL in the Ahmednagar filled from those women not calculate the village wise gap district, A message “ Please having their name in the voters in Elector Population Ratio visit www.ahmednagar.nic.in list. We had better results (EPR) and gender ratio. This to see your name in the voters due to these innovative ideas gap was calculated on the list. If the name is not there, because we got more Form basis of expected population you can apply to tehsil office/ 6 from women than men. growth as on 1.1.2014. As polling station.” was sent by This is big achievement for the villagewise census data Collector, Ahmednagar to the State. was available along with partywise voters data within village was compared with census figures for calculating gap in EP Ratio and Gender ratio. After calculating this gap strategy was made to mitigate this gap by identifying the remaining voters through house to house visit by Booth Level Officers along with all village functionaries mentioned above. This strategy worked well for us as we received highest number of applications in the State.
REGISTRATION OF THIRD GENDER PERSONS AS VOTERS Special efforts were made to include a third gender persons in the democratic process by way of including their names in the electoral roll. Though the number of forms received are less, this is new beginning for them to use their right in the democratic set up.
26 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Inclusive Way of Strengthening Democracy Ensuring participation of the groups like the transgender, sex workers, beedi workers, sugarcane cutters and the tribals from Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts of Maharashtra in the electoral process has been a challenging but fruitful task says, Smt. Geetanjali Baviskar, Deputy District Electoral Officer. s a part of election mana- A gement, the Election Commission has taken an important step to include citizens from the marginalized and excluded groups on the electoral roll to strengthen democracy and it has started showing promising results. The significant move includes ensuring participation of the groups like the transgender, sex workers, beedi workers, sugarcane cutters and the tribals from Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts of Maharashtra in the electoral process. This is because the Election Commission was aware that political empowerment will youth, the uneducated, who had developed an remain a distant dream unless residents of inaccessible apathetic attitude or those who all these groups and sections and remote areas, socially are physically cut off from the are included in the electoral and economically weaker/ mainstream due to various roll. Voter’s participation in deprived sections of society. reasons needed to be brought the democratic and electoral Election Commission of under the ambit of focused processes is integral to the India envisaged systematic, voters education. successful running of any strategic and scientific The reason why no democracy and the very basis processes in understanding political party considers the of wholesome democratic the voter participation and transgender community a elections. Thus, it becomes engagement dynamics so as vote bank is connected to the The transgenders an integral part of election to facilitate the processes way it is perceived by society are unfortunately management. of increased and informed at large. The transgenders are not seen as a To improve participation of participation. unfortunately not seen as a section which all sections of the electorate, Large segments/sections section which has something awareness levels needed to of the electorate who were to contribute to the society. has some thing be enhanced, especially not covered by the formal Similarly the tribals and the to contribute to amongst the newly eligible educational system or those beedi workers and sugarcane the society
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 27 VOTE
The increased cutters are ignored lot mainly District, in Assembly part of the district are covered voter because they are illiterate, Constituency No. 157 Bhandup by forest. Hills are found in registration in live in inaccessible places. For (W) two excluded groups Bhamragad, Tipagad, Palasgad instance Beed is famous for its communities are identified- and Surjagad area. This area is tribal areas is seasonal migration, especially Transgenders and Sex Workers. mainly inhabitated by tribals. an outcome from its dry hilly region. With the help of NGO named According to the 2011 of tribal Beed District having Premkiran Transformation census Gadchiroli district specific SVEEP drought prone area, sugarcane Centre which is working for has a population of 1,071,795 interventions cutters migrate in the month of transgenders and sex workers, The district has a population undertaken February every year to sugar Electoral Registration Officer density of 74 inhabitants per factories. It was observed 157 organized meeting with square kilometre (190 /sq mi). by district from the figures of voter’s NGO and appealed them Gadchiroli has a sex ratio of 975 administration turnout of last general to enroll their names in the females for every 1000 males, elections which was held Electoral Roll. and a literacy rate of 70.06%. in April 2009, that due to Similarly steps have been Scheduled tribe population in migration of sugarcane cutters, taken to include the tribals of the district is 3,71,696. Which the voter turnout percentage Gadchiroli and Chandrapur is 38.3% of total population. was less in the district. districts in the voters list. Seven languages are spoken So the enrollment of Gadchiroli District was created in the district, namely, Gondi, those sugarcane cutters was on August 26, 1982 by the Madiya, Marathi, Hindi, encouraged and their names separation of Gadchiroli Telugu, Bengali, Chattisgadi were included in the Electoral and Sironcha tehsils from The district is categoried Roll. This will facilitate them Chandrapur District. As of 2011 as a tribal and undeveloped to get EPICS which they it is the second least populous district and most of the land can use for voting purpose district of Maharashtra after is covered with forest and as many of them don’t have Sindhudurg The district is hills. Forests cover more than other documents required divided into six sub-divisions, 78% of the geographical area for identification. In Beed which are further divided of the district. The district is District 95329 Forms are into 12 talukas. The district known for Naxalite activities; received during the current is currently a part of the Naxalites from the Communist Special Summary Revision Red Corridor. Party of India (Maoist) have Programme. Dhanora, Etapalli, Aheri and taken shelter in the dense In Mumbai Suburban Sironcha talukas in the eastern forests and hills of this district. And this poses greatest challenge before the district administration in reaching out to the people.
MADIA-GONDS Madia Gonds or Madia are one of the Gond tribes living in Gadchiroli district. They have been granted the status of a Primitive tribal group by the Government of India under its affirmative action or reservation programme. The Madia Gonds are strongly affected by Naxal activities. The Madia Gonds use the self designation Madia, and call the area where they live Madia Desh.
28 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Madias today are doctors, teachers, Government emplo- yees. Performance of school going Madia children is on par with other children of the State, a Madia girl student has figured in the merit list of candidates at the State level.
MAJOR CHALLENGES The district administration is aware of the importance of participation of tribals in electoral process to fight anti- democratic forces in district. So increased enrollment of tribals in electoral roll is a first step in affirming the faith of people in democratic process. There are ‘Art of living’ were involved in with respect to the number Organisations many impediments in this tasks. SVEEP campaigns especially of male and female voters like ‘Art of There are cultural, linguistic to spread awareness among who who are registered in barriers not to mention the tribals. Confidence building electoral roll. In summary living’ were vast geographic expanse of the measures by visits of ERO and revision of electoral rolls in involved district and sparse population AERO to sensitive areas was October 2013 with 1.1.2014 as in SVEEP of tribals living in inaccessible undertaken. To top it all, a a qualifying date Gadchiroli campaigns areas. Besides, in sensitive areas no frills approach of directly district has witnessed a sort especially reaching out to tribals is itself contacting potential voters of trend reversal in respect to spread daunting task. The seasonal was devised. of tribal voters registrations. migration of tribals for collection This is mainly due to awareness tendu leaves is the single most BRAND AMBASSADORS SVEEP interventions in tribal among tribals important factor for low The Bhamragad Taluka, where areas. Bhamaragad tehsil voter registration as well as l the Madia Gond Adivasis which is home to madia gonds ow voter turnout in live, is the heart of naxal and the worst naxal affected these areas. activities in Gadchiroli tehsil in Gadchiroli districts districts. This is where has shown highest percentage STRATEGY Lok Biradari Prakalp, an point increase in E.P. ratio To get over the problem of NGO working in the fields in the district i.e. 13.17% low voter registration in tribal of health and education, followed by Korchi, another inhabited areas, an elaborate operates. It was established naxal affected taluka, which polling station wise analysis in 1973. Dr. Prakash Amte has shown an increase of of low voter registration and Dr. Mandakini Amte are 10.51%. Polling Stations was done. working for the Lok Biradari The increased voter These Polling Stations were Prakalp . They are the brand registration in tribal areas inevitably located in tribal ambassadors for electoral is an outcome of tribal dominated areas in tehsil registration purpose. They specific SVEEP interventions like Bhamaragad, Ettapalli, are held in high esteem by undertaken by district admini- Dhanora and Korchi. Such low madias and this has helped in stration. But in absolute registration Polling Stations increasing the participation of number much needs to be done were targeted for specific the tribals in electoral process. in these areas and the district SVEEP interventions that were administration is geared up local and culture specific like OUTCOME to extend the gains made distributing leaflets in Madia Over the years, general trend during summary revision of language. Organisations like has been an increasing one October 2013.
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 29 VOTE Putting a Cap on Poll Spending The object of the provision limiting the expenditure is two fold. In the first place, it should be open to any individual or any political party, howsoever small, to be able to contest an election on a footing of equality. The other objective is to eliminate, the influence of big money in the electoral process says, Neelesh Gatne, Deputy Secretary and Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra.
ounting influence of was nominated and the date of election expenditure in M money power in elections of declaration of the result of excess of the prescribed limit is not a new phenomenon election, both dates inclusive. as a corrupt practice was but has been existing since Rule 90 of the Conduct elucidated by the Supreme several decades back. The only of Elections Rules, 1961 Court in Kanwar Lal Gupta vs difference is that in the recent prescribes varying limits Amar Nath Chawla (AIR 1975 times, it has become extremely of election expenditure for SC 308), as follows: pronounced. Parliamentary and Assembly “…The object of the provision To curb this practice, Section Constituencies in each of the limiting the expenditure is two 77(1) of the Representation of States and Union Territories. fold. In the first place, it should the People Act, 1951 makes it For Maharashtra presently be open to any individual or mandatory for every candidate ceiling on expenditure for any political party, howsoever to the House of the People or candidates of Parliamentary small, to be able to contest an a State Legislative Assembly Constituencies is Rs. 70 lakh election on a footing of equality to keep a separate and correct and for candidates of Assembly with any other individual or account of all expenditure Constituencies is Rs. 28 lakh. political party, howsoever rich incurred or authorized by The beneficial object sought and well financed it may be, him or by his election agent, to be achieved by making and no individual or political between the date on which he the incurring or authorizing party should be able to secure an advantage over others by virtue of its superior financial Limiting election strength…. expenditure The other objective of limiting the expenditure is to limits corruption eliminate, as far as possible, and makes the the influence of big money in whole process the electoral process. If there transparent to was no limit on expenditure, ensure that good political parties would go all out and honest for collecting contributions… The pernicious influence of people contest big money would then play elections and a decisive role in controlling enter legislature the democratic process in the and Parliament country….”
30 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD TYPES OF ELECTION expenditure monitoring is, constituted for keeping vigil One of the EXPENDITURE therefore, twofold. For the over excessive campaign big menace Election expenditure can be first category of expenditure, expenses, distribution of broadly put in two categories. it must be ensured that all items of bribe in cash or in during the The first type is the election election expenditure on kind, movement of illegal elections expenditure, which is permitted items is truthfully arms, ammunition, liquor, is the allowed under the law for reported and considered while or antisocial elements etc. in phenomenon electioneering, subject to it scrutinizing the expenditure the constituency during of paid news being within the permissible account submitted by the election process. limit. This would include candidates. As far as the expenditure connected with second category of expenditure FLYING SQUADS campaigning like on public including surrogate advertise- 1. There shall be three or meetings, public rallies ments, paid news etc., is more Flying Squads (FS) posters, banners, vehicles, concerned, it is obvious that it in each constituency. The advertisements in print will never be reported by the Flying Squads shall start or electronic media etc. political parties/ candidates. functioning from the The second category of the The systems should be date of announcement of expenditure is, on items which robust enough to catch such election and shall continue are not permitted under law. expenditure as well, and not till completion of poll. For example, distribution of only include it in the account 2. The Flying Squad shall money, liquor, or any other of election expenditure, but (a) attend to all model item to the electors with also take action against the code of conduct violations intent to influence them wrongdoers under the relevant and related complaints; comes under the definition of provisions of the law, including (b) attend to all complaints bribery and is an offence under lodging of complaints before of threat, intimidation, the IPC and corrupt practice the police/ competent movement of anti-social under the R.P. Act, 1951. The magistrate, if required. elements, liquor, arms and expenditure on such items is For the purpose of ammunition and large sum illegal. Yet another form of maintaining purity of elections, of cash for the purpose of expenditure which is coming the Election Commission of bribing of electors etc.; to the fore in recent times is India has issued a Standard (c) attend to all complaints on Surrogate Advertisements, Operating Procedure for Flying regarding election paid news etc. Squads, Static Surveillance expenditure incurred The purpose of election Teams and Check Posts, or authorised by the
LOK SABHA ELECTIONS 2014 IN MAHARASHTRA IN THREE PHASES Polling for 48 constituencies in Maharashtra will be held in three phases i.e. on April 10, 17 and 24, 2014. April 10 (Thursday) - 5 Buldhana, 6 Akola , 7 Amravati, 8 Wardha, 9 Ramtek, 10 Nagpur, 11 Bhandara- Gondiya, 12 Gadchiroli- Chimur, 13 Chandrapur, 14 Yavatmal-Washim. April 17 (Thursday) - 15 Hingoli , 16 Nanded, 17 Parbhani, 33 Maval , 34 Pune, 35 Baramati, 36 Shirur , 37 Ahmednagar, 38 Shirdi, 39 Beed , 40 Osmanabad, 41 Latur, 42 Solapur, 43 Madha, 44 Sangli, 45 Satara, 46 Ratnagiri – Sindhudurg, 47 Kolhapur, 48 Hatkanangle. April 24 (Thursday) - 1 Nandurbar, 2 Dhule, 3 Jalgaon, 4 Raver, 18 Jalna, 19 Aurangabad, 20 Dindori, 21 Nashik, 22 Palghar, 23 Bhiwandi, 24 Kalyan, 25 Thane, 26 Mumbai North, 27 Mumbai North-West, 28 Mumbai North-East, 29 Mumbai North-Central, 30 Mumbai South –Central, 31 Mumbai South, 32 Raigad.
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 31 VOTE
obtained by the CEOs and provided to all District level MCMCs for fixing the rates of advertisements. Another form • In case of bye-election of expenditure to Parliamentary or which is coming Assembly constituency, to the fore in the standard rate card shall be obtained by the recent times is District Election Officer on Surrogate concerned immediately on Advertisements, announcement of the bye- paid news etc election. • In case of any doubt relating candidates / political party; TACKLING PAID NEWS to the application of (d) videograph with the SYNDROME |the standard rate card help of Video Surveillance As stated earlier, one of the arising, the matter shall Team (VST), all major big menace during the be referred to the DIPR rallies, public meetings or elections is the phenomenon or DAVP, Ministry other major expenses made of paid news. It has serious of Information and by political parties after the ramifications as it is capable Broadcasting, Government announcement of election of eating into the vitals of of India for advice. by the Commission. free and fair media. Press • The CEO and DEOs will Whenever a complaint Council of India and Election brief Political Parties and regarding distribution of cash Commission are seized of Media Houses about the or liquor or any other item of the matter and are making above guidelines before bribe or regarding movement serious efforts to tackle this the commencement of of antisocial elements or arms problem. It has both corporate the election campaign. and ammunition, is received, and political dimensions and Media shall be asked to the Flying Squad shall reach there have been complaints exercise self-regulation in the spot immediately. The against big business players this regard. Wide publicity Flying Squad shall seize the of either paying journalists may be given to this order items of bribe or other illicit directly or managements of to make the general public items, and gather evidences media organisations to get also aware about these and record statement of the favourable coverage, often guidelines. The thrust of witnesses and the persons from concealing facts. Similarly, the briefing will be on the whom the items are seized. In poll candidates try to get image need for self-regulation. case, a complaint is received boosting write-ups by bribing One of the most critical about distribution of cash, gift journalists or publishing problems in the matter of items, liquor or free food; or houses. electoral reforms is the hard about threat/ intimidation of With regard to Paid News, reality that for contesting electors; or of movement of following guidelines are an election one needs arms/ammunitions/ antisocial followed: large amounts of money. elements and it is not possible • Six months before the due The purpose of limiting for the Flying Squads to reach date of normal expiry of expenditure prescribed are the spot immediately, then the Lok Sabha or the State/ to ensure that the good and information shall be passed UT Legislative Assembly, the honest people are able to on to the Static Surveillance as the case may be, a list of contest elections and enter Team, nearest to the spot or television channels/radio Legislature and Parliament. to the police station of that channels/newspapers, Limiting election expenditure area, who shall rush a team to broadcast/ circulated in thus limits corruption and the spot for taking necessary the State/UT and their makes the whole process action on the complaint. standard rate cards shall be transparent.
32 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Delimitation of Constituencies Delimitation Commission demarcates the boundaries of the Parliamentary Constituencies as per provisions of the Delimitation Act.
There are 543 Parliamen- proportion to its population as Act , 2008 gives the State-wise tary constituencies in per census figures. break up. India each electing one member. Who demarcates Is there any reservation the boundaries of these of seats for any special constituencies? category in Lok Sabha? Delimitation Commission Yes. In Lok Sabha there is res- Under Article 82 of the Con- ervation of seats for Scheduled stitution, the Parliament by Castes and Scheduled Tribes. law enacts a Delimitation Here also census figures are Act after every census. After taken into account. coming into force commence- ment of the Act, the Central On what basis is this reser- Government constitutes a De- vation made? limitation Commission. This Allocation of seats for Delimitation Commission de- Scheduled Castes and Tribes marcates the boundaries of in the Lok Sabha are made the Parliamentary Constituen- on the basis of proportion of cies as per provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Delimitation Act. The present in the State concerned to that delimitation of constituencies of the total population, vide has been done on the basis provision contained in Article of 2001 census figures under 330 of the Constitution of Which are the States Allocation the provisions of Delimitation India read with Section 3 of the having the minimum of seats for Act, 2002. Notwithstanding R. P. Act, 1950. number of seats in Lok Scheduled the above, the Constitution of Sabha? India was specifically amended How many seats are The following States and Union Castes and in 2002 not to have delimita- reserved for Scheduled Territories have one seat each Tribes in the Lok tion of constituencies till the Castes in Lok Sabha? in the Lok Sabha Mizoram, Sabha are made first census after 2026. Thus, For Scheduled Castes, 84 seats Nagaland, Sikkim, Andaman on the basis the present Constituencies are reserved in Lok Sabha. The and Nicobar Islands, Chandi- of proportion carved out on the basis of 2001 1st schedule to Representation garh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli of Scheduled census shall continue to be in of People Act, 1950 as amended Daman and Diu Lakshadweep operation till the first census vide Representation of People Pondicherry. Castes and after 2026. (Amendment) Act , 2008 gives Tribes in the the State-wise breakup. For every State, there State concerned What is the main basis has to be a Legislative to that of the for allocation of seats to How many seats are Assembly, but it is not so total population various States in the Lok reserved for Scheduled in the case of all Union Sabha? Tribes in Lok Sabha? Territories. Which are the Population of the State is the For Scheduled Tribes, 47 seats U.Ts. having a Legislative basis of allocation of seats are reserved in Lok Sabha. The Assembly? of the Lok Sabha. As far as 1st schedule to R. P. Act, 1950 Out of the 7 Union Territories, possible, every State gets rep- as amended vide Representa- only Delhi and Pondicherry resentation in the Lok Sabha in tion of People (Amendment) have Legislative Assemblies.
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 33 LOK SABHA CONSTITUENCIES AT A GLANCE The information about Lok Sabha Elections 2009 at a glance, including information of the party candidates with number of votes, total number of voters, Assembly constituencies included, 2014 Electoral Roll, total voters registered, male voters, female voters, service voters. For detailed information visit http://eci.nic.in and ceo.maharashtra.gov.in. 1) NANDURBAR LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 2) DHULE LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] GAVIT MANIKRAO HODLYA -275936 - INC 1 - Akkalkuwa (ST), 2 - Shahada (ST), 3 - Nandurbar 1] SONAWANE PRATAP NARAYANRAO - 263260 - BJP 6 Dhule Rural 7] Dhule Urban 8] Sindhkheda 114] 2] GAVIT SHARAD KRUSHNARAO- 235093 - SP (ST), 4 - Nawapur (ST), 5 - Sakri (ST), 2] PATEL AMRISHBHAI RASIKLAL - 243841 - INC Malegaon (Central) 115 ]- Malegaon (Outer) 116] 3] NATAWADKAR SUHAS JAYANT- 195987 - BJP 9 - Shirpur (ST) 3] NIHAL AHMED MAULAVI MOH. USMAN - 72738 - JD(S) - Baglan (ST) TOTAL VOTERS - 1455543 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total voters as per 2014 TOTAL VOTERS - 1575225 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters - 1646176 Male TOTAL VOTING - 766240 Electoral roll 1361370 Total male voters- 693732 TOTAL VOTING - 669906 Voters 862568 Female Voters - 781162 Service Total Female Voters 667048 Service voters -590 Voters - 2446 4) RAVER LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 3) JALGAON LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] A. T. NANA PATIL-343647 - BJP 13 Jalgaon City14 - Jalgaon Rural15 - Amalner 1] JAWALE HARIBHAU MADHAV - 328843 - BJP 10 - Chopda (ST) 11 - Raver12 - Bhusawal (SC) 19 2] ADV. VASANTRAO JEEVANRAO MORE- 247627 - NCP 16 - Erandol17 - Chalisgaon18 - Pachora 2] ADV. PATIL RAVINDRA PRALHADRAO - Jamner 20 - Muktainagar 21 - Malkapur 3] WAGH SUDHAKAR ATMARAM-19206 - IND Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters-1664228 3] PATIL SURESH CHINDHU - 33641 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters-1563394 TOTAL VOTERS-1549391 Male Voters 884331 Female Voters- 775637 TOTAL VOTERS - 1418691 Male Voters-827307 Female Voters- 734450 TOTAL VOTING - 656334 Service voters -4260 TOTAL VOTING - 719822 Service voters -1637 6) AKOLA LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 5) BULDHANA LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] JADHAV PRATAPRAO GANPATRAO - 353671 - SS 22 - Buldhana23 - Chikhli24 - Sindhkhed 1] DHOTRE SANJAY SHAMRAO - 287526 - BJP 28 - Akot 29 - Balapur 30 - Aakola West 31 - 2] SHINGANE DR.RAJENDRA BHASKARRAO - 325593 - NCP 25 - Mehkar (SC Raja) 26 - Khamgaon27 - Jalgaon 2] AMBEDKAR PRAKASH YASHWANT - 222678 - BBM Akola East 32 - Murtizapur (Sc) 33 - Risod 3] DHOKNE RAVINDRA TULSHIRAMJI - 31034 - BBM (Jamod) 3] BABASAHEB DHABEKAR - 182776 - INC 2014 Electoral roll : Total Voters Registered For TOTAL VOTERS - 1382736 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters for Loksabha TOTAL VOTERS - 1480606 Loksabha Constituency 2014 -1642642 Male TOTAL VOTING - 853133 2014 - 1571655 Total Male voters- 831 141 Total TOTAL VOTING - 738955 Voters- 866584 Female Voters -773720 service Female Voters- 737453 Service Voters -3061 Voters-2338
34 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD 8) WARDHA LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 7) AMRAVATI LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] ADSUL ANANDRAO VITHOBA - 314286 - SS 37 - Badnera38 - Amrawati39 - Teosa40 - Daryapur 1] DATTA MEGHE - 352853 - INC 36 - Dhamangaon Railway43 - Morshi44 - Arvi 2] GAWAI RAJENDRA RAMKRUSHNA - 252570 - RPI (SC) 41 - Melghat (ST) 42 - Achalpur 2] SURESH GANPATRAO WAGHMARE - 256935 - BJP 45 - Deoli46 - Hinganghat 47 - Wardha 3] DR. RAJIV GULABRAO JAMTHE - 64438 - IND Electoral Roll 2014 : 3] KANGALE BIPIN BABASAHEB - 131643 - BSP Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters -1542892 TOTAL VOTERS - 1423855 Total Voters- 1578052 Total Male Voters - 830431 TOTAL VOTERS - 1408781 Total Male Voters - 806528 TOTAL VOTING - 732492 Total Female Voters - 745668 Servic Voters - 1953 TOTAL VOTING - 769132 Total Female Voters- 734733 Service Voters- 1631 9) RAMTEK LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 10) NAGPUR LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] WASNIK MUKUL BALKRISHNA - 311614 - INC 48 - Katol 49 - Savner 50 - Hingna 51 - Umred 1] MUTTEMWAR VILASRAO BABURAOJI -315148 - INC 52 - Nagpur South West 53 - Nagpur South,54 - 2] TUMANE KRUPAL BALAJI - 294913 - SS (SC) 58 - Kamthi 59 - Ramtek 2] PUROHIT BANWARILAL BHAGWANDAS -290749 - BJP Nagpur East 55 - Nagpur Central 56 - Nagpur West 3] PRAKASHBHAU KISHAN TEMBHURNE - 62238 - BSP 2014 Electoral roll : Total Voters - 1644662 3] ENGINEER MANIKRAO VAIDYA- 118741 - BSP 57 - Nagpur North (SC) TOTAL VOTERS -1502900 Total Male Voters- 869613 TOTAL VOTERS- 1738920 Electoral Roll 2014 : TOTAL VOTING -764712 Total Female Voters- 773584 TOTAL VOTING -755369 Total Voters- 1842145 Total Male Voters -956396 Service Voters- 1465 Total Female Voters -894541 Service Voters- 1208
12) GADCHIROLI- CHIMUR LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 1] KOWASE MAROTRAO SAINUJI - 321756 - INC 2] ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE-293176 - BJP 3] ATRAM RAJE SATYAWANRAO -135756 - BSP TOTAL VOTERS- 1285387 TOTAL VOTING- 837247
ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 66 - Amgaon (ST) 67 - Armori (ST) 68 - Gadchiroli (ST) 69 - Aheri (ST) 73 - Bramhapuri 74 - Chimur 2014 Electoral roll : Total Voters -1451261 Total Male Voters -745033 Total Female Voters -705715 11) BHANDARA GONDIYA LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY Total Service Voters- 513 LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] PATEL PRAFUL MANOHARBHAI - 489814 - NCP 60-Tumsar 61- Bhandara (SC) 62-Sakoli 2] NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE - 237899 - IND 63-Arjuni Morgaon (SC) 64-Tirora 65-Gondia 3] PATLE SHISHUPAL NATTHUJI -158938 - BJP Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1633007 TOTAL VOTERS - 1450477 Total Male Voters-828812 TOTAL VOTING - 1030750 Total Female Voters- 801326 Service Voters- 2868
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 35 13) CHANDRAPUR LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 14) YAVATMAL -WASHIM LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] AHIR HANSARAJ GANGARAM - 301467 - BJP 70 - Rajura 71 - Chandrapur (SC) 72 - Ballarpur 1] BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL) - 384443 - SS 34 - Washim (SC) 35 - Karanja 77 - Ralegaon (ST) 2] PUGALIA NARESH - 268972 - INC 75 - Warora 76 - Wani 80 - Arni (ST) 2] HARISING RATHOD - 327492 - INC 78 - Yavatmal 79 - Digras 81 - Pusad 3] CHATAP WAMAN SADASHIVRAO - 169112 - STBP Electoral Roll 2014 : 3] YEDATKAR DILIP LAXMANRAO - 62781 - BSP 2014 Electoral roll : Total Voters- 1715592 TOTAL VOTERS- 1536352 Total Voters - 1715078 Total Male Voters - 902034 TOTAL VOTERS -1554042 Total Male Voters- 902609 TOTAL VOTING- 898515 Total Female Voters - 812152 TOTAL VOTING -840064 Total Female Voters- 812059 Service Voters - 892 Total Service Voters- 924 15) HINGOLI LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 16) NANDED LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] SUBHASH BAPURAO WANKHEDE - 340148 - SS 82 - Umarkhed (ST), 83 - Kinwat, 84 - Hadgaon, 1] KHATGAONKAR PATIL BHASKARRAO BAPURAO 85 - Bhokar, 86 - Nanded North, 87 - Nanded 2]SURYAKANTA JAYANTRAO PATIL- 266514 - NCP 92 - Basmath, 93 - Kalamnuri, 94 - Hingoli - 346400 - INC South, 89 - Naigaon, 90-Deglur (SC), 91 - Mukhed 3] DR. B.D. CHAVAN - 111357 - BSP Electoral Roll 2014 : 2] PAWAR SAMBHAJI -271786 - BJP Electoral Roll 2014 : TOTAL VOTERS- 1369774 Total Voters -1565361 2] MAQBUL SALIM HAJI M. KHWAJA - 84743 - BSP Total Voters- 1661884 Total TOTAL VOTING- 817467 Total Male Voters - 829549 TOTAL VOTERS- 1439015 Male Voters- 866369 Total Female Voters - 794961 Total Female Voters -735117 Service Voters - 694 TOTAL VOTING- 774590 Service Voters- 554 18) JALNA LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 17) PARBHANI LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] ADV. DUDHGAONKAR GANESHRAO NAGORAO 95- Jintur, 96 - Parbhani, 97 - Gangakhed, 98 - 1] DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO - 350710 - BJP 101 - Jalna, 102 - Badnapur (SC), 103-Bhokardan, - 385387 - SS Pathri, 99 - Partur, 100 - Gansavangi 2] DR. KALE KALYAN VAIJINATHRAO - 342228 - INC 104 - Sillod ,106 - Pholambari, 110 - Paithan 2] WARPUDKAR SURESH AMBADASRAO - 319969 - NCP Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1766632 3] RATHOD RAJPALSINH GABRUSINH - 35976 - BSP Electoral Roll 2014 : 3] RAJSHRI BABASAHEB JAMAGE - 64611 - BSP Total Male Voters- 930804 TOTAL VOTERS - 1426255 Total Voters- 1583338 Total Male Voters- 850051 TOTAL VOTERS - 1610088 Total Female Voters- 834987 TOTAL VOTING- 797127 Total Female Voters- 730882 TOTAL VOTING- 870726 Total Service Voters- 841 Total Service Voters-2405
36 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD BHIWANDI LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 20 DINDORI LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 19) AURANGABAD LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE - 255896 - SS 105 - Kannad, 107 - Aurangabad (Central), 108 - 1] CHAVAN HARISHCHANDRA DEORAM-281254 - BJP 113 - Nandgaon117 - Kalwan (ST) 118 - Chandwad 2] UTTAMSINGH RAJDHARSINGH PAWAR - 222882 - INC Aurangabad (West) (SC), 109 - Aurangbad (East), 2] ZIRWAL NARHARI SITARAM-243907 - INC 119 - Yevla121 - Niphad 122 - Dindori (ST) 3] SHANTIGIRIJI MOUNIGIRIJI MAHARAJ-148026 - IND 111 - Gangapur, 112 - Vaijapur 3] GAVIT JIVA PANDU-105352 - CPM Electoral Roll 2014 : TOTAL VOTERS -1417964 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters-1532612 Total TOTAL VOTERS - 1432938 Total Voters- 1504111 Total Male Voters - 792095 TOTAL VOTING -731147 Male Voters- 815394 Total Female Voters- 714913 TOTAL VOTING - 681623 Total Female Voters - 709940 Service Voters- 2305 Total Service voters - 2767 21) NASHIK LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 22) PALGHAR LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] BHUJBAL SAMEER - 238706 - NCP 120 - Sinnar 123 - Nashik East 124 - Nashik 1] JADHAV BALIRAM SUKUR - 223234 - BVA 128 - Dahanu (ST) 129 - Vekramgrth (ST) 2] GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM - 216674 - MNS (Central) 125 - Nashik West 126 - Deolali (SC) 2] ADV. CHINTAMAN VANGA - 210874 - BJP 130 - Palghar (ST) 131 - Boisar (ST) 3] GAIKWAD DATTA NAMDEO - 158251 - SS 127 - Igatpuri (ST) 3] SHINGDA DAMODAR BARKU - 160570 - INC 132 - Nalasopara 133 - Vasai TOTAL VOTERS - 1448414 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters -1548163 TOTAL VOTERS- 1523061 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1548003 TOTAL VOTING - 655671 Total Male Voters -824963 Total Female Voters TOTAL VOTING- 732587 Total Male Voters - 814904 Total Female Voters -720601 Total Service Voters -2599 -732904 Total Service Voters - 195
KOLHAPUR LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 24) KALYAN LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 23) BHIWANDI LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] TAWARE SURESH KASHINATH -182789 - INC 134 - Bhiwandi Rural (ST) 135 - Shahapur (ST) 1] ANAND PRAKASH PARANJAPE - 212476 - SS 140 - Ambarnath (SC) 141 - Ulhasnagar 142 - 2] PATIL JAGANNATH SHIVRAM -141425 - BJP 136 - Bhiwandi West 137 - Bhiwandi East 138 - 2] DAVKHARE VASANT SHANKARRAO - 188274 - NCP Kalyan East 143 - Dombivali 144 - Kalyan Rural 3] DEVRAJ KISAN MHATRE -107090 - MNS Kalyan West 139 - Murbad 3] VAISHALI DAREKAR-RANE - 102063 - MNS 149 - Mumbra-Kalwa TOTAL VOTERS- 1483176 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1501700 Total TOTAL VOTERS- 1588507 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1880451 TOTAL VOTING- 584263 Male Voters- 774338 Total Female Voters- 727078 TOTAL VOTING- 544828 Total Male Voters -1022892 Total Female Voters Total Service Voters- 284 -857171 Total Service Voters -381
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 37 25) THANE LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 26) MUMBAI NORTH LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] DR.SANJEEV GANESH NAIK - 301000 - NCP 145 - Meera Bhayandar 146 - Ovala majiwada 1] SANJAY BRIJKISHORLAL NIRUPAM - 255157 - INC 152 - Borivali 153 - Dhaisar 154 - Magathane 160 2] CHAUGULE VIJAY LAXMAN - 251980 - SS 147 - Kopri-Pachpakhadi 148 - Thane 150 - Airoli 2] RAM NAIK - 249378 - BJP - Kandivali East 161 - Charkop 162 - Malad West 3] RAJAN RAJE - 134840 - MNS 151 - Belapur 3] PARKAR SHIRISH LAXMAN - 147502 - MNS Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1725385 TOTAL VOTERS-1806803 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1992242 TOTAL VOTERS- 1608924 Total Male Voters- 942287 TOTAL VOTING - 749873 Total Male Voters- 1099035 TOTAL VOTING- 685022 Total Female Voters- 782885 Total Female Voters- 892654 Total Service Voters- 214 Total Service Voters- 553 27) MUMBAI NORTH WEST LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 28) MUMBAI NORTH EAST LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] AD. KAMAT GURUDAS VASANT - 253920 - I NC 158 - Jogeshwari East 159 - Dindoshi 1] SANJAY DINA PATIL - 213505 - NCP 155 - Mulund 156 - Vikhroli 157 - Bhanpup West 2] GAJANAN KIRTIKAR - 215533 - SS 163 - Goregaon 164 - Varsova 165 - Andheri West 2] KIRIT SOMAIYA - 210572 - BJP 169 - Ghatkopar West 170 - Ghatkopar East 3] THAKARE SHALINI JITENDRA - 124000 - MNS 166 - Andheri East 3] SHISHIR SHINDE - 195148 - MNS 171 - Mankhurd shivajinagar TOTAL VOTERS- 1604992 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- -1725318 TOTAL VOTERS- 1572890 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters -1629526 TOTAL VOTING-707134 Total Male Voters-961092 Total Female voters- TOTAL VOTING- 667904 Total Male Voters- 902865 Total Female Voters - 764025 Total Service Voters- 201 726194 Total Service Voters- 398 30) MUMBAI SOUTH CENTRAL LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 29) MUMBAI NORTH CENTRAL LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] DUTT PRIYA SUNIL -319352 - INC 167 - Vile Parle 168 - Chandivali 174 - Kurla (SC) 1] EKNATH M. GAIKWAD - 257523 - INC 172 - Anushakti Nagar 173 - Chembur 178 - 2] MAHESH RAM JETHMALANI - 144797 -BJP 175 - Kalina 176 - Vandre East 177 - Vandre West 2] SURESH ANANT GAMBHIR - 181817 - SS Dharavi (SC) 179 - Sion Koliwada180 - Wadala 3] SHILPA ATUL SARPOTDAR - 132546 -MNS Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1696486 3] SHWETA VIVEK PARULKAR - 108341 - MNS 181 - Mahim TOTAL VOTERS - 1681985 Total Male Voters- 945882 TOTAL VOTERS- 1515899 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters - 1408259 TOTAL VOTING - 664647 Total Female Voters- 750375 TOTAL VOTING- 598845 Total Male Voters- 773647 Total Female Voters - Total Service Voters- 225 634358 Total Service Voters 254
38 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD 32) RAIGAD LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 1] ANANT GEETE - 413546 - SS 2] BARRISTER A.R. ANTULAY - 267025 - INC 3] ADV. PRAVIN MADHUKAR THAKUR - 39159 - IND Total Voters - 1359830 Total Voting - 767366
ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 191 - Pen 192 - Alibag 193 - Shrivardhan 194 - Mahad 263 - Dapoli 264 - Guhagar Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters - 1516326 Total Male Voters - 743065
31) MUMBAI SOUTH LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY Total Female Voters - 770543 Total Service Voters - 1717 LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] DEORA MILIND MURLI - 272411 - INC 182 - Worli 183 - Shivadi184 - Byculla 185 - 2] BALA NANDGAONKAR - 159729 - MNS Malabar Hill 186 - Mumbadevi 187 - Colaba 3] MOHAN RAWLE - 146118 - SS Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1437700 Total Voters- 1589811 Total Male Voters- 804031 Total Voting- 641571 Total Female Voters- 633170 Total Service Voters- 484 33) MAVAL LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 34) PUNE LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] BABAR GAJANAN DHARMASHI - 364857 - SS 188 - Panvel 189 - Karjat 190 - Uran 204 - Maval 1] KALMADI SURESH - 279973 - INC 208 - Vadgaon Sheri 209 - Shivajinagar 2] PANSARE AZIM FAKIRBHAI - 284238 - NCP 205 - Chinchwad 206 - Pimpri (SC) 2] SHIROLE ANIL- 254272 - BJP 210 - Kothrud 212 - Parvati 214 - Pune 3] MISHRA UMAKANT RAMESHWAR - 20455 - BSP 2014 Electoral roll : Total Voters -1890678 3] SHIROLE RANJIT SHRIKANT - 75930 - MNS Cantonment (SC) 215 - Kasba Peth Total Voters- 1604886 Total Male Voting -1002017 Total Voters - 1806953 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1773287 Total Voting- 717616 Total Female Voting- 887312 Total Voting - 734641 Total Male Voters- 1017087 Total Female Voters- Total Service Voters- 1349 854353, Total Service Voters- 1847 36) SHIRUR LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 35) BARAMATI LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] SULE SUPRIYA -487827 - NCP 199 - Daund 200 - Indapur 201 - Baramati 202 - 1] ADHALRAO - PATIL SHIVAJIRAO - 482563 - SS 195 - Junnar 196 - Ambegaon 197 - Khed Alandi 2] NALAWADE KANTA -150996 - BJP Purandar 203 - Bhor 211 - Khadakwasala 2] LANDE VILAS VITHOBA - 303952 - NCP 198 - Shirur 207 - Bhosari 213 - Hadapsar 3] KUDALE VIVEK ANANT- 29864 - BSP Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1761078 3] ZAGDE YASHWANT SITARAM - 17439 - BSP Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1765198 Total Voters- 1593460 Total Male Voters-931809 Total Voters- 1630466 Total Male Voters- 940398 Total Voting- 734048 Total Female Voters-826422 Total Voting- 838728 Total Female Voters- 821609 Total Service Voters- 2847 Total Service Voters- 3197
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 39 38) SHIRDI LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 37) AHMENDNAGAR LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] GANDHI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL- 312047 - BJP 222 - Shevgaon 223 - Rahuri 224 - Parner 225 1] WAKCHAURE BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM - 359921 - SS 216 - Akole (ST) 217 - Sangmner 218 - Shirdi 219 2] KARDILE SHIVAJI BHANUDAS - 265316 - CPI - Ahmednagar City 226 - Shrigonda 227 - Karjat 2] ATHAWALE RAMDAS BANDU - 227170 - RPI - Kopargaon 220 - Shrirampur (SC) 221 - Nevasa 3] RAJALE RAJIV APPASAHEB- 152795 - IND Jamkhed 3] RUPWATE PREMANAND DAMODHAR - 22787 -IND Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1449798 TOTAL VOTERS- 1517951 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1680220 Total TOTAL VOTERS- 1317890 Total Male Voters- 761090 TOTAL VOTING- 786 980 Male Voters- 885813 Total Female Voters -786458, TOTAL VOTING- 663881 Total Female Voters- 686339 Total Service Voters- 7949 Total Service Voters- 2369 39) BEED LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 40) OSMANABAD LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] MUNDE GOPINATHRAO PANDURANG - 553994 - BJP 228 - Geora, 229 - Majalgaon, 230 - Beed, 231 - 1] PATIL PADMASING BAJIRAO - 408853 - NCP 239 - Ausa 240 - Omerga (SC) 241 - Tuljapur 242 2] KOKATE RAMESH BABURAO (ADASKAR) - 413042 - NCP Ashti, 232 Kaij, 233 - Parli 2] GAIKWAD RAVINDRA VISHWANATH - 402053 - SS - Osmanabad 243 - Paranda 246 - Barshi 3] MASKE MACHINDRA BABURAO - 25284 - BSP Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1774622 3] NAKADE DIWAKAR YASHWANT - 28045 - BSP Electoral Roll 2014 : TOTAL VOTERS - 1637239 Total Male Voters- 951189 TOTAL VOTERS - 1608852 Total Voters- 1713313, Total Male Voters- 917669 TOTAL VOTING - 1073983 Total Female Voters- 818640 TOTAL VOTING - 924547 Total Female Voters- 789982, Service Voters - Total Service Voters- 4793 5742
41) LATUR LOKSABHACONSTITUENCY 42) SOLAPUR LOKSABHACONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] AWALE JAYWANT GANGARAM - 372890 - INC 88 - Loha, 234 - Latur Rural, 235 - Latur City, 1] SHINDE SUSHILKUMAR SAMBHAJIRAO - 387591 - INC 247 - Mohol (SC) 248 - Solapur City North 249 - 2] GAIKWAD SUNIL BALIRAL - 364915 - BJP 236 - Ahmedpur, 237 - Udgir (SC), 238 - Nilanga 2] ADV. BANSODE SHARAD MARUTI - 287959 - BJP Solapur City Central 250 - Akkalkot 251 - Solapur 3] ADV. BABASAHEB SADASHIVRAO GAIKWAD - 34033 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1666995 3] GAIKWAD PRAMOD RACHANDRA - 30457 - BSP South 252 - Pandharpur - BSP Total Male Voters -888988 TOTAL VOTERS - 1594138 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1667133 TOTAL VOTERS - 1509987 Total Female Voters -774298 TOTAL VOTING - 743222 Total Male Voters- 874435, Total Female Voters- TOTAL VOTING - 829393 Total Service Voters- 3709 790438, Total Service Voters- 2260
40 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD 43) MADHA LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY 44) SANGALI LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] PAWAR SHARAD RAMCHANDRA - 530596 - NCP 244 - Karmala, 245 - Madha, 253 - Sangola, 254 - 1] PATIL PRATIK PRAKASHBAPU - 378620 - INC 281 - Miraj (SC) 282 - Sangli 285 - Palus- 2] DESHMUKH SUBHASH SURESHCHANDRA - 216137 Malshiras (SC), 255 - Phaltan (SC), 258 - Mann 2] GHORPADE AJITRAO SHANKARRAO - 338837 - IND Kadegaon 286 - Khanpur 287 - Tasgaon-Kavathe - BJP Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1698144 3] PATEL M. JAVED M . YUSUF - 11793 - BSP Mahankal 288 - Jat 3] JANKAR MAHADEV JAGANNATH - 98946 - RSPS Total Male Voters- 895223 TOTAL VOTERS - 1490571 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1615793 TOTAL VOTERS - 1558442 Total Female Voters- 797003 TOTAL VOTING - 776830 Total Male Voters- 837476 Total Female Voters TOTAL VOTING - 919371 Total Service Voters- 5918 - 769366, Total Service Voters-8911
46) RATNAGIRI LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 1] DR. NILESH NARAYAN RANE - 353915 - INC 2] SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU - 307165 - SS 3] SURENDRA BORKAR - 18858 - IND TOTAL VOTERS- 1252225 TOTAL VOTING- 718721
ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 265 - Chiplun, 266 - Ratnagiri, 267 - Rajapur, 268 - Kankavli, 269 - Kudal, 270 - Sawantwadi Electoral Roll 2014 :
45) SATARA LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY Total Voters -1350950 Total Male Voters- 655928 Total Female Voters- 691937 Total Service Voters- 3085 LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] BHONSLE SHRIMANT CHH. UDYANRAJE - 532583 - NCP 256 - Wai 257 - Koregaon, 259 - Karad North, 260 2] PURUSHOTTAM BAJIRAO JADHAV - 235068 - SS - Karad South, 261 - Patan, 262 - Satara 3] CHAVAN PRASHANT VASANT - 25112 - BSP Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1701808 TOTAL VOTERS -1546146 Total Male Voters- 867711 TOTAL VOTING - 816646 Total Female Voters- 825276 Total Service Voters- 8821
47) KOLHAPUR LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY
LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 1] SADASHIVRAO DADOBA MANDLIK -428082 - IND 2] SAMBHAJIRAJE SHAHU - 383282 -NCP 3] DEVANE VIJAY SHAMRAO - 172822 -SS TOTAL VOTERS- 1583030 TOTAL VOTING -1027802
ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 271 - Chandgad 272 - Radhanagari 273 - kagal 274 - Kolhapur South 275 - Karvir 276 - Kolhapur North 2014 Electoral roll : Total Voters-
1731830, Total Male Voters- 889939 48) HATKANGALE LOKSABHA CONSTITUENCY Total Female Voters- 832924 Total Service Voters- 8967 LOKSABHA ELECTION RESULT 2009 ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES INCLUDED 1] SHETTI RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA - 481025 - SWP 277 - Shahuwadi 278 - Hatkanangle (SC) 2] MANE NIVEDITA SAMBHAJIRAO - 385965 - NCP 279 - Ichalkaranji 280 - Shirol 283 - Islampur 3] RAGUNATH RAMCHANDRA PATIL - 55050 - SS 284 - Shirala TOTAL VOTERS-1458560 Electoral Roll 2014 : Total Voters- 1614336 TOTAL VOTING- 978202 Total Male Voters- 839440 Total Female Voters- 770449 Total Service Voters- 4413
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 41 VOTE Involving Youth in The Electoral Process Indian youth is now garnered with higher education on a large scale and the role of this empowered young generation in the electoral process is becoming eminently important. Hence when the younger generation will appreciate total electoral process, they will initiate others as well to vote, says Milind Saraf, Section Officer, SVEEP, Mantralaya.
lections are an indelible E part and the voter list is the foundation of elections in our country which is the largest Democracy in the World. Processes such as updating and compilation of accurate voter lists, registration of 100 per cent eligible voters in the voter lists, deletion of deceased, repetitive and migrated voters etc are carried out every year at the Electoral Registration Officer level. Analyzing the voter lists it the Election Commission of of youth within age limit of is found that the number of India has felt that it is essential 18-19 being 38,94,589. It young voters is quite less. that all such eligible young was necessary to register Indian youth is now voters are registered in the eligible young voters under garnered with higher voter lists. The fundamentals this programme. It was also education on a large scale and of Indian democracy would necessary to organize get-to- the role of this empowered definitely be imbibed on the gather, conferences and camps young generation in the young voters. Realizing this with this in view. electoral process is becoming need, the Election Commission It was essential to prepare eminently important. Hence of India has undertaken an a path-breaking plan and when the younger generation ambitious programme titled to get the youth on board to will appreciate total electoral Systematic Voters Education participate in the same to process, they will initiate and Electoral Participation achieve this objective. At the others as well to vote. Electoral (SVEEP). Under this same time it was necessary training, action plan and programme an awareness to invoke participation of The Election discussion forums can be quite campaign is being undertaken educational institutes, colleges Commission of effective on this generation. for involving voter registration as well as the teachers in India felt, it is It was essential for providing especially among young and order that the information essential that all an appropriate direction and women voters. was conveyed effectively eligible young a helping hand to students Maharashtra has a total to the youth. With this in and young entrepreneurs so population of 11,76,69,050 view various types of voters should be that they can step ahead in including a population of activities were implemented registered in the direction of responsible 8,02,98,402 of persons with at many places in the State of the voter lists citizenship. Due to this factor age 18 plus with population Maharashtra.
42 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD PARTICIPATION OF NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME It is difficult to individually visit various educational institutes and colleges for voter registration. However it has been possible to implement this programme through the medium of already active National Service Scheme (NSS) at concerned colleges. For this work, more than 500 National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers helped the District Election Office. With information was carried campaign, it was a very positive the participation of other Non from home to home through and assertive experience Governmental Organizations it the help of Cable Networks. working with the volunteers was possible to implement the Various slogans and cartoons of Non Governmental voter registration campaign regarding the campaign were Organizations, National on a large scale. Through this shown in cinema theatres. Service Scheme (NSS) and medium a large number of Due to meaningful utilization Senior Citizens organizations. trainers have come out and of a variety of initiatives taken, Due to positive, co-operative are training other volunteers SVEEP project, received an and assertive point of view held under their jurisdiction. overwhelming response from by all these organizations and Modern technology the new and young voters all with their total co-operation was used for creation of around. The programmes were with the administration, expansive awareness about implemented effectively all the Voter Registration the movement. With this in over the State. Campaign concluded with view and to make the voter While implementing this huge success. registration process easier Voting help centres were Maharashtra created and Block Level has a Officers (BLO) were appointed. population of The information about these 8,02,98,402 officers along with mobile numbers has been published of persons on the District Website. A with age 18 large number of people were plus with benefitted due to this. population of On the immersion day of youth within the Ganesh Festival in Pune, age limit of a Voter Awareness Rally was organized with co-operation 18-19 being of NGOs and literature to the 38,94,589 people attending festivities was distributed. Volunteers from National Cadet Core (NCC) presented street plays at various places. Much debated interviews on Akashwani as well as popular FM Radio Mirchy were carried along. The campaign
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 43 VOTE Significance of Ethical Voting How people vote makes a difference not only to the society but to the whole country. Bad choices at the polls can destroy economic opportunities and produce crises. Hence efforts are being made continuously to educate the voters on the significance of Ethical Voting through educational institutions, says Chandran Iyer.
ndian national elections Gender gap in registration India where elections are often I have been the largest and voter turnout, urban apathy mired in controversies on electoral exercise in the world to electoral participation and ethical issues. ever since the first national youth disconnect with the Inducement of the electorate elections in 1952. Moreover electoral process have emerged through payments in the form the cultural, linguistic, ethnic as the biggest challenges, said of cash, goods, or services and religious diversity of the Dr. Nasim Zaidi, Election is very common during the Indian society, as well as the Commissioner of India, when elections. Here slums are Gender gap in federal nature of the Indian he launched the website http:// critical to a campaign because registration and State, make this event a indiavoting.org/ to bring voter their population density and voter turnout, particularly complex one. registration at the doorstep of poverty allows them to be urban apathy It is the process of election Corporate India on January 31 more ‘easily mobilized’ by to electoral that mirrors the hopes and in New Delhi. bribes. During the election aspirations of the people. But To combat these issues, period meat, chicken and participation the lack of ethics have put the he suggested that creating beverages are distributed to and youth Indian political system under awareness, motivating people people to woo them for votes. disconnect with strain and led to the general to participate in the electoral Poor voters expect bribes the electoral declines of values in public life. process and facilitating and from political candidates, and process have Such a system does not augur easing out the process for candidates find various ways to emerged as well for the democracy and it registration were some of satisfy voter expectations. needs to be rectified. There are the ways to increase voter This happens despite the the biggest many issues that need to be turnout. His view sums up fact that there are laws to tackle challenges tackled. the burgeoning problem in such propensity of the political parties. Any attempt to woo the voters by offering bribe in any manner warrants the penal Provision as enshrined in the Section -17(b) of Election Code of Conduct. This provision may put both the giver and taker of bribe inside the bar for a period of one year. What is needed is to create awareness among the people so that they are not influenced by material gifts, money, alcohol etc., from the candidates. In this regard the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation Plan
44 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD (SVEEP) is playing a big role to ensure greater participation THE GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM for a stronger Democracy by If you have any grievance in regard to electoral roll, Electors Photo Identity Card or any ensuring that no section of the other election related matter you may approach following Officers: society is left out in exercising Chief Electoral Officer At the State Level their franchise. District Election Officer At the District Level How people vote makes Returning Officer At the Constituency Level a difference not only to the Assistant Returning Officer At Taluka/Tahsil Level society but to the whole Electoral Registration Officer At the Constituency Level Presiding Officer At Polling Station country. Bad choices at the Zonal Officer For a group of Poling stations polls can destroy economic (Detailed addresses etc. to be provided by the CEO) opportunities and produce During every election, the Commission appoints Observers who are senior civil service crises that lower everyone’s officers from outside the State. If you have any grievances or problems, you should standards of living and create approach them. social, political and economic crises. Hence efforts are being externalities upon others”. made continuously to To increase the educate the voters on the participation of the students significance of Ethical and create awareness among Voting through educational them National Voter’s Day is institutions, Central and State celebrated. Programmes are Governments, Government conducted in the colleges to and Semi Government offices, spread the importance of ethical voluntary institutions, State voting so that they exercise level newspapers, social media their electoral franchise with and others. full consciousness. Jason Brennan who Cultural festivals are also is Assistant Professor at being used in a big way to the McDonough School of create awareness among the about the significance of “Mat To increase the Business at Georgetown people on the issue of Ethical daan”(voting) on the lines of participation University and is the author Voting. In the ancient time Rakt daan (blood donation). of The Ethics of Voting says Lokmanya Tilak had started “National Voters’ Day” is of the students “Voting is not like choosing “Ganesh festival for social being celebrated at district and create what to eat off a restaurant’s awareness and today it has level, tehsil level in every awareness menu. If a person makes bad taken big form and the same Government office, at polling among them choices at a restaurant, at least is being used to disseminate booth and also at college level. National only he bears the consequences awareness about registration Observing the extent of Voters’ Day is of his actions. Yet when voters in the electoral rolls and Form No. 6 the campaign is make bad choices at the polls, ethical voting. Similarly the seen to be succeeded. Good celebrated everyone suffers. Irresponsible Navratri Festival in which voter-turnout is expected in the voting can harm innocent millions of people take part forthcoming Parliament and people”. is also used for spreading this Assembly elections because of He said “how other awareness. Many saints and the success of these initiatives. people vote is my business. spiritual leaders are also giving As of now the voter turnout of After all, they make it my discourses to the people on the women is less. However business. Electoral decisions the aspects of Ethical Voting. in days to come we can hope are imposed upon all through Many NGOs and voluntary their greater participation in force, that is, through violence organizations are also involved ethical voting. It will not only and threats of violence. When in educating the people on this help in empowering women it comes to politics, we are aspect. Besides in the rural but also help in containing the not free to walk away from areas “Kirtan Media” is being nefarious practices of female bad decisions. Voters impose used to inform the people feoticides.
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 45 VOTEVOTEOTE verything About EVoting Machine Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used in India in General and State elections. The EVMs reduce the time in both casting a vote and declaring the results compared to the old paper ballot system.
When was the Electronic Legislative Assemblies held in Therefore, even in areas with Voting Machine first November, 1998. no power connections, EVMs introduced in elections? can be used. Electronic Voting Machines How can EVMs be used in manufactured in 1989-90 areas where there is no What is the maximum were used on experimental electricity? number of votes which basis for the first time in EVMs run on an ordinary 6 can be cast in EVMs? 16 Assembly Constituencies in volt alkaline battery EVMs can record a maximum the States of Madhya Pradesh manufactured by Bharat of 3840 votes. As normally the (5), Rajasthan (5) and NCT Electronics Ltd., Bangalore total number of electors in a of Delhi (6) at the General and Electronic Corporation polling station will not exceed Elections to the respective of India Ltd., Hyderabad. 1500, the capacity of EVMs is
46 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD more than sufficient.
What is the maximum number of candidates which EVMs can cater to? EVMs can cater to a maximum of 64 candidates. There is provision for 16 candidates in a Balloting Unit. If the total number of candidates exceeds 16, a second Balloting Unit can be linked parallel to the first Balloting Unit. Similarly, if the total number of candidates exceeds 32, a third Balloting Unit can be attached and if the total number of candidates exceeds 48, a fourth Balloting Unit can be attached to cater to a maximum of 64 candidates. Is it possible to use each individual polling station. Electronic In case the number of EVMs for simultaneous Voting contesting candidates goes elections for Parliament Can booth - capturing be beyond 64 in any constituency, and State Legislative prevented by the use of Machines will EVMs cannot be used in such a Assembly? EVMs? record only constituency. The conventional Yes. It is possible to use By booth-capturing, if one five votes in a method of voting by means of EVMs for simultaneous means, taking away or minute ballot box and ballot paper will elections for Parliament and damaging of ballot boxes or have to be adopted in such a State Legislative Assembly ballot papers, this evil cannot constituency. and the existing EVMs have be prevented by the use of been designed keeping this EVMs as EVMs can also be In our country a sizeable requirement in view. forcibly taken away or damaged section of the population by miscreants. But if one looks being illiterate will it not With ballot boxes at booth capturing as a case cause problems for the counting is done after of miscreants intimidating illiterate voters? mixing the ballot papers. the polling personnel and In fact, voting by EVMs is Is it possible to adopt this stamping the ballot papers on simpler compared to the system when EVMs are the symbol and escaping in a conventional system, where used? matter of minutes, this can be one has to put the voting The normal rule is to count the prevented by the use of EVMs. mark on or near the symbol votes polling station-wise and The EVMs are programmed in of the candidate of his choice, this is what is being done when such a way that the machines fold it first vertically and EVM is used in each polling will record only five votes in a then horizontally and station. The mixing system minute. As recording of votes thereafter put it into the of counting is done only in has necessarily to be through ballot box. In EVMs, the voter those constituencies specially Control Unit and Balloting has to simply press the blue notified by the Election Unit, whatever be the number button against the candidate Commission. Even in such of miscreants they can record and symbol of his choice and cases, the result from each vote only at the rate of 5 per the vote is recorded. Rural EVM can be fed into a Master minute. In the case of ballot and illiterate people had no Counting Machine in which papers, the miscreants can difficulty in recording their case, only the total result of distribute all the 1000 odd votes and, in fact they have an Assembly Constituency will ballot papers assigned to welcomed the use of EVMs. be known and not the result in a polling station, among
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 47 VOTE
themselves, stamp them, stuff candidate irrespective of any EVM. them into the ballot boxes whether the `blue button’ and run away before the police against that candidate Is there any provision for reinforcements reach. In half- or any other candidate is issue of tendered ballot an-hour, the miscreants can pressed? papers when EVMs are record only a maximum of 150 The microchip used in EVMs used? votes by which time, chances is sealed at the time of import. Yes. There is provision for are the police reinforcement It cannot be opened and any issue of tendered ballot would have arrived. Further, rewriting of programme can papers under the system of the presiding Officer or one of not be done by anyone without EVMs also. But, when such the Polling Officers can always damaging the chip. Therefore, a situation arises, the voter press the “close” button as soon there is absolutely no chance concerned will be issued an as they see some intruders of programming the EVMs ordinary ballot paper. After inside the polling station. It in a particular way to select marking the ballot paper with the arrow cross mark rubber stamp supplied, the tendered ballot paper will be put inside a cover specially provided for the purpose, sealed and kept by the Presiding Officer.
How can one rule out the possibility of recording further votes at any time after close of the poll and before the commencement of counting by interested parties? As soon as the last voter has In EVMs, voter will not be possible to record any particular candidate or voted, the Polling Officer has to simply any vote when once the ‘close’ political party. in-charge of the Control Unit button is pressed and this will press the ‘Close’ Button. press the blue will frustrate the efforts of the Ballot boxes are engraved Thereafter, the EVM will not button against booth-capturers. so as to avoid any accept any vote. Further, the candidate scope for complaint of after the close of poll, the and symbol How long the Control Unit replacement of these Balloting Unit is disconnected of his choice stores the result in its boxes. Is there any system from the Control Unit and and the vote is memory? of numbering EVMs? kept separately. Votes can The Control Unit can store Yes. Each Control Unit has a be recorded only through recorded the result in its memory for 10 unique ID Number, which is the Balloting Unit. Again the years and even more. painted on each unit with a Presiding officer, at the close permanent marker. This ID of the poll, will hand over to Is it possible to Number will be allowed to each polling agent present an programme the EVMs in be noted by the Polling Agents account of votes recorded. At such a way that initially, and will also be recorded in the time of counting of votes, say upto 100 votes, votes a Register maintained for the total will be tallied with will be recorded exactly the purpose by the Returning this account and if there is in the same way as the Officer. The address tag any discrepancy, this will be ‘blue buttons’ are pressed, attached to the Control Unit pointed out by the Counting but thereafter, votes also will indicate this ID Agents. will be recorded only in Number. Therefore, there is (Source: Website of Election favour of one particular no question of replacement of Commission of India )
48 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Outlining the Proper E lection Practices The Election Commission has its rules and regulations called ‘Model Code of Conduct’ for every stakeholder involved in the election process from political parties, ruling governments, campaigns and candidates to ensure elections are conducted in a transparent manner says , Shruti Ganapataye.
ndia known for its largest political parties, ruling candidates, political parties I democracy in the world, governments, campaigns and and government, media would soon be having 16th candidates to ensure elections coverage etc. The detailing of general elections since 1951. are conducted in a transparent the rules is very interesting As the country has adopted manner. The Code of Conduct to know as they focus on federal structure, the direct gives equal opportunity to all various polls related issues. election of candidates upto the candidates irrespective Let’s have a general idea about the Prime Minister level is of a political party while the Code of Conduct for the a very interesting process in campaigning and approaching general elections. There are political sphere. Every citizen the voters. It does not allow minor differences in the Code Any kind of who has completed 18 years anyone even if the person of Conduct when it comes to communal of age can franchise making is holding the highest office State or Panchayati Raj polls public participation important including the Prime Minister’s compared to the Lok Sabha or casteist in the election process. With to indulge into any kind of polls. The Code of Conduct remarks are a huge voter population over activity that will misuse the is enforced from the date of also barred 700 million, it’s a challenge powers during the polls. announcement of election during the before the system to conduct Lot of things have been schedule by the Election election period free and fair election process at addressed in the Code of Commission and is operational that would hurt all levels whether it is a Gram Conduct like when it will till the process of elections is Panchayat or the Lok Sabha. commence, campaigning, completed. During general sentiments of It is the prime work rallies, dos and don’ts for elections, the code is applicable the voters entrusted to the Election Commission (EC) to conduct Every citizen who has completed 18 years of age can unbiased elections and ensure franchise making public participation important in the all the citizens can practice election process their right to vote without any fear or influence. It is VOTING BOOTH a tough job for the Election Commission to conduct fair elections in 28 States and seven union territories by avoiding any political interference. The Election Commission has its rules and regulations called ‘Model Code of Conduct’ (CC) for every stakeholder involved Uttam in the election process from
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 49 VOTE
the organizers to adhere to the rules like place and time ELECTION RALLY and route to be followed after getting permission from the police. It is a responsibility of the organisers to ensure that the procession does not block or cause any hindrance to the traffic. If more than one processions are scheduled Election Commission has restricted personal by different parties, then criticism or accusation while campaigning every organiser shall take Uttam measures to avoid any clash. Every candidate has to declare Political throughout the country while also disallows political parties his/her expenditure on Parties during general elections to and candidates to make use of campaigning to the Election are also the Legislative Assembly, the any individual’s land, building, Commission. In the Lok Sabha code is applicable in the entire compound wall etc., without polls, the candidates are prevented from State. In the bye-elections, the permission for erecting flag- allowed to spend upto Rs 40 announcing code is applicable in the entire staffs, suspending banners, lakh on campaigning. But it any financial district or districts in which the pasting notices, writing slogans. has to give daily expenditure to grants in constituency falls. the Election Commission. The any form or MEETINGS financial limit is upto Rs 16 promises GENERAL CONDUCT In case a candidate wants to lakh for candidates contesting Political parties or candidates organize a peaceful rally, it is the Legislative Assembly. For thereof are not allowed to indulge mandatory for him to inform various Municipal Corpor- in any activity which may the local police authorities ations the limit is between aggravate existing differences of the venue and time any Rs three lakh to five lakh. or create mutual hatred or proposed meeting well in cause tension between different advance. Also the candidates POLLING DAY castes and communities. It should follow prohibitory order The most important day in has also restricted personal in force if any. For organizing the election process is also criticism or accusation while procession, it is necessary for followed with a set of rules to campaigning. Any kind of communal or casteist remarks Election Commission has restricted any are also barred during the “corrupt practices” and offences under the election period that would election law, such as bribing of voters hurt sentiments of the voters. It has restricted any “corrupt practices” and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, impersonation of voters, canvassing within 100 meters of polling stations, holding public meetings during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the poll, and the transport and conveyance of voters to and from polling Uttam station. The Code of Conduct
50 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD avoid any untoward incident and give an opportunity to all The Code of Conduct does not allow unnecessary candidates as well as voters crowd to be collected near the camps set up by to participate in the process the political parties without any hindrance or fear. and candidates near ELECTION CAMP The Election Commission the polling booths expects co-operation from the candidates and parties with the officers on election duty to ensure peaceful and VOTING BOOTH orderly polling and complete freedom to the voters to exercise their franchise without being subjected to any annoyance or obstruction. The Code of Counduct does not allow unnecessary crowd Uttam to be collected near the camps set up by the political particular the ministers shall Commission to go further. The The Election parties and candidates near not combine their official visit EC gives permission for a few Commission the polling booths so as to with electioneering work and programmes considering the avoid confrontation and shall not also make use of nature but makes sure that expects co- tension among workers and official machinery or personnel the function should be a low operation sympathisers of the parties and during the electioneering key affair. Utmost care has from the the candidate. The Election work. The Government been taken by the Election candidates and Commission to ensure that no parties with The Government transport including official aircrafts, one misuses his or her power the officers vehicles, machinery and personnel shall not be used for in the Code of Conduct period to influence people. on election furtherance of the interest of the party in power duty to ensure PARTY ELECTION OFFICE RULING PARTIES peaceful and To prevent any misuse of power, orderly polling the Election Commission has restricted ruling parties from monopolising public places, use of helipads for air-flights, rest houses, official bungalows or other Government accommodation Uttam in connection with elections. It has also disallowed issuing Commission also appoints transport including official air- advertisement at the cost observers if the candidates crafts, vehicles, machinery and of public exchequer in the or their agents have any personnel shall not be used newspapers and other media specific complaint or problem for furtherance of the interest and the misuse of official mass regarding the conduct of of the party in power. In some media for propaganda during elections so that they can bring cases, where pre-scheduled the the election period . it to their notice. The party Government programmes like When the election Code in power shall ensure that no inauguration of some project or of Conduct is operational, cause is given for any complaint schemes fall during the Code of the ministers and other that it has used its official Conduct period, the authorities authorities cannot sanction position for the purposes concerned should take grants/payments by using of its election campaign. In permission from the Election discretionary funds. They
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are also prevented from process has to be kept secret. concerned, the Commission announcing any financial Interestingly, the Election is considering the matter grants in any form or promises Commission has also taken in consultation with the thereof; or lay foundation note of use of a tool, social Ministry of Communication stones of projects or schemes of media and has set certain and Information Technology any kind; or make any promise guidelines for the new media. on practical ways to deal with of construction of roads, It has differentiated the social the issue, in so far as they provision of drinking water media as collaborative projects relate to, or can be reasonably facilities, make any ad-hoc (for example, Wikipedia), connected with, the election appointments in Government, blogs and micro blogs (for campaigning of political Public Undertakings which example, Twitter), content parties and candidates. Even may have the effect of communities (like YouTube), there is a restriction on campa- influencing the voters in favour social networking sites (like igning through SMSs after of the party in power. Facebook) and virtual game- campaigning period is over. However, for tackling worlds (e.g., Apps). Candidates At times, the Election emergencies like drought, are required to declare their Commission has taken floods, pestilences and social media accounts in action against candidates or other natural calamities, Form-26 at the time of filing authorities who have flouted the Government has to seek of nominations. Following an norms. There are some There is a approval from the Commission order by the Supreme Court, references available on the site restriction on to release funds to the the Election Commission has of the Election Commission campaigning victims. Even the Government instructed every registered/ which shows that the authority through machinery has been restricted national and State political have warned and taken action SMSs after to give political speeches or party and every contesting against politicians and minister make announcements in the candidate proposing to issue and political parties for campaigning government programmes advertisements on television violating the code of conduct. period is over during the polls. channels and/ or on cable The Election Commission has a power to cancel registration They are also prevented from announcing any financial of any party if the nature of grants in any form or promises thereof; or lay foundation violation is grave. stones of projects or schemes of any kind; or make any The Election Commission promise of construction of roads, has maintained its unique provision of drinking role in the vast and varied water facilities structure of Indian political system. It’s important has been highlighted and remained undisputed time and again by many. Its functioning shows that even the smallest issue or person related to the election process is not ignored when it comes Uttam to the implementation of the code of conduct. The whole MEDIA network will have to apply exercise may sound boring There are certain restriction to Election Commission of and technical for outsiders but on media on publishing India/designated officer for we must not forget that it is stories that may hurt or pre-certification of all political shaping the entire process of influence sentiments of certain advertisements on electronic election in right manner. One community. It is restricted media before the publication. must appreciate pivotal role from taking pictures or videos As far as the content posted by played by the EC has always during counting or actually persons other than candidates strengthened the democracy in exercising right vote, as the and political parties is a true sense.
52 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Conducting Elections Smoothly The India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management an advanced resource centre of learning, research, training and extension for participatory democracy and election management helps to impart intensive training to polling personnel says, Prasad V. Kulkarni, Section Officer, Mantralaya.
ndia is the world’s largest departments are taken on of Election Commission of I democratic country deputation for elections and India. IIIDEM, New Delhi having 11 million electorate. after elections are over the has facilities for imparting The biggest challenge before concerned staff returns to training on all subjects related the Election Commission their original departments. to elections. The Institute has which is entrusted with the In order that the elections are expert officers and staff to task of conducting elections is to deliver error free elections by imparting intensive training to polling personnel. Since this process involves the largest event management exercise in the world, training is of paramount importance. Millions of Government servants and other persons are directly or indirectly involved in the election process and this inevitably throws up a major human resource management challenge to the election managers and administrators. A proper and professionally organized training forms the core of the Human Resource management. Almost all conducted in free environment handle all aspects of election Election the problems/difficulties and in an appropriate manner, training. The training here process confronted during pre-poll it is essential that all these includes subjects such as process and on the poll day officers and staff are properly Nomination, Handling involves the can be traced back to lack of trained for electoral activities. EVMs, Model Code of Conduct, largest event adequate training at various It is only with the support of Law and Order, Arrangements management levels. these officers and staff that for a Voting Booth, Filling exercise in the The Election Commission the elections are conducted up of various forms world, training of India has very limited staff smoothly. and others. is of paramount strength of its own and it carries In order to implement this out the task of conducting training an Institute titled THREE TIER TRAINING importance elections through officers and IIIDEM (India International FORMAT staff of various administrative Institute of Democracy & Tier One: At this level the departments. The officers Election Management) has chief officers at the State and staff from these various been working under the aegis handling elections at district
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levels such as Deputy District each topic is provided in every all the courses is made available Election Officers are trained session of training and all by the Election Commission and perfected with complete queries are resolved. The extent of India. Based on the same training at IIIDEM, New of grasp of the election process and considering the local Delhi. After their training by the trainees is ascertained conditions at State/District/ these officers are designated with an examination after Taluka level, training materials as SLMT (State Level Master training. Apart from this a are prepared at required levels Trainer). feedback regarding training/ and are used in training. Power Tier Two: On this level the trainers and training Point Presentation is used in these training sessions so as to make the subject easy to understand for the participant trainees. Although essential facilities for training are made available by Election Commission of India, the responsibility of training all the officers and staff connected with election process remains with the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Government of Maharashtra. Therefore the office of the Chief Electoral Officer deputes officers from the State Government for training IIIDEM has SLMT (State Level Master methodology in terms of at the IIIDEM, New Delhi. been working Trainer) trained at IIIDEM, opinion and suggestions is At the same time this office under the New Delhi are expected to obtained. Considering these organizes training for train officers such as ERO and opinions/suggestions required various officers and staff at aegis of AERO handling the legislature improvements are carried out the level of District/Taluka/ Election level election work. The in the training process. Village through the officers Commission officers trained at this level are All this explains why it is who have been trained at of India to designated as ALMT (Assembly essential to train the officers IIIDEM, New Delhi. For train the Level Master Trainer). and staff in order to conduct this training sessions on a election staff Tier Three: On this level the elections in a fearless and variety of topics are organized ALMT (Assembly Level Master impartial manner and to at various places. When Trainer) is expected to train implement the election process necessary, the office of the the Taluka level and village appropriately under the Chief Electoral Officer also level officers and staff such as provisions of the Election Act. invites Experts from Election Voter Central Level Officer. IIIDEM prepares an annual Commission of India, New Apart from this training, Training calendar for the same. Delhi to the State for training the officers from other According to the calendar of officers and staff from the Departments at the State level various training programmes State. In this way the office of such as Income Tax, State are organized on a variety of Chief Electoral Officer carries Excise Duty Department, subjects. The Institute also out a variety of responsibilities Police Department and others provides Refresher Training in order to encourage officers are appropriately trained to programmes for those who and staff on a large scale for carry out their duties in election have already undergone training and also to make process and their departments training so as to revise their available the facilities for as designated under the information and also to provide training so that the elections in provisions of Election Act. fresh inputs in the matter. the State are conducted in an Detailed information about The Training Materials for appropriate manner.
54 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD The Voting Procedure The right to vote and more importantly the exercise of franchise by the eligible citizens is at the heart of every democracy. We, the people, through this exercise of our right to vote have the ultimate power to shape the destiny of country by electing our representatives who run the Government. Here are some frequently asked questions about the voting process.
Who can vote? What is an electoral roll? electors per booth in urban All citizens of India who are 18 An electoral roll is a list of area. The polling booths are years of age as on 1st January of all eligible citizens who are so set up that no voter should the year for which the electoral entitled to cast their vote in ordinarily travel more than roll is prepared are entitled to an election. The electoral 2 kms to reach the polling be registered as a voter in the rolls are prepared Assembly booth. Normally, one part will constituency where he or she Constituency wise. An correspond with one polling ordinarily resides. Only persons electoral roll for any Assembly booth. who are of unsound mind and Constituency is subdivided To exercise your franchise, have been declared so by a into parts corresponding the first and foremost competent court or disqualified with the polling booths. The requirement is that your name due to ‘Corrupt Practices’ or Election Commission of India should be in the electoral roll. offences relating to elections has decided to generally have a Without your name registered are not entitled to be registered maximum of 1200 electors per in the relevant part for the area in the electoral rolls. booth in rural area and 1400 where you ordinarily reside in
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give the full address of your enquiry all the claims and earlier place of residence. objections are decided and a Short absence from place of supplementary electoral roll is residence does not debar one prepared and published. to continue his/her name Even after the final in electoral roll. Similarly, publication of electoral rolls the deletions are carried out of process of continuous updation electors who have died or who of electoral rolls goes on and have shifted residence from the citizens are free to file any one area to another outside application for the addition, the prescribed part of the deletion, modification and electoral roll. You should note transposition with the that you can be registered Electoral Registration Officer. only at one place. Registration As per the law, your name in more than one place is an can be registered upto the the Assembly Constituency, offence. last date of filing nominations you will not be allowed to During Intensive Revision of by candidates that has been exercise your franchise. electoral rolls which normally notified by the Election Therefore, it is your duty to takes place once in five years, Commission for any general find out whether your name a draft roll is prepared after election or by-election to has been registered or not. house to house enumeration an Assembly or Parliament. and published at every polling To enable the Electoral How to register? booth location for inviting Registration Officer to take The Election Commission claims and objections. Any action on your application, you prepares the electoral rolls eligible person can file claim must apply at least ten days through a process of intensive in Form No. 6 for inclusion of before the last date of making revision where house-to- his name in the roll or raise an nominations as he has to house enumeration is done objection to somebody’s name mandatorily invite objections and electors residing in each or for deletion of his or any by giving a seven clear days house are registered by official other person’s name in Form notice before including your enumerators who go physically No. 7. Similarly if any name in the roll. If you apply from door-to-door to collect particulars in the electoral later than ten clear days before the information about electors. roll are to be modified such as the last date for nominations This process is done normally name, house number, middle your name may not be once in five years. Between two name, last name, age, sex, epic included for the purposes of Intensive revisions, summary number etc. a claim in Form that particular election. revisions are done every year No. 8 can be filed. In case any during a specified period when elector has changed his house How to check your name persons who are left out of from the polling area of one in the electoral rolls and the electoral rolls are given booth to other booth in the same to find the polling station Citizens who an opportunity to register Assembly Constituency he can where you have to go to are 18 years themselves by applying in file application in Form No. 8A vote? Form No. 6. It is also expected for change/transposition from As an elector you should of age as on from you to get your name one electoral part to other part. immediately check whether 1st January deleted from the place where During Summary revision your name has been included of the year you earlier resided, and get it of electoral rolls which takes in the electoral roll of the for which the included at new place in case place every year, the existing constituency where you reside electoral roll you have shifted. For this, on electoral rolls are published or not. You can find out this is prepared your part, it is sufficient that at each polling booth information from the Electoral you file claim application in locations to invite claims Registration Officer of your are entitled to Form No. 6 before the Electoral and objections for inclusion, area. Electoral rolls in all major be registered Registration Officer of the new deletion, modification and cities have now been displayed as a voter place and in that application transposition. After due on official websites also.
56 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Do you have an Electors’ iii.his/her educational in the leading newspapers by Photo Identity Card? background. the Returning Officer for the The Election Commission This has been done with benefit of electors. of India has made voter a view that every citizen has Above measures help the identification mandatory at a right to know about the electors make an informed the time of poll. The electors candidates contesting an choice about the candidate have to identify themselves election and make an informed they are going to vote for. with either Electors Photo choice. Identity Card (EPIC) issued The Election Commission Can you decline to cast by the Commission or any has directed all Returning your vote at the last stage? other documentary proof as Officers to display the copies The law enables a voter to prescribed by the Commission. of nomination papers and decline casting his vote at accompanying affidavits the last stage. If you decide Will possession of an received during any day on not to cast your vote after EPIC alone entitle you to his notice board immediately having signed on the Register vote? on receipt and make copies of Voters and after having You should note that mere of these for distribution to received the voters’ slip from possession of an EPIC issued the press and any members the Second Polling Officer, to you does not guarantee of public who want this you must inform the Presiding you your vote, because it information, free of cost. Officer immediately. He will is mandatory that your Any citizen of the country then take back the voters’ name should appear in the can obtain copies of the slip from you and proceed electoral roll. nomination form and the to record in the remarks The polling Once you have found out affidavit filed by any candidate column of the Register that your name is there in from the Returning Officer of Voters that you have booths are so the electoral roll and you and it shall not be refused. declined to exercise your set up that no also possess an identification As a voter you have every franchise and you will be voter should document prescribed by the right to seek this information required to put your signature ordinarily Election Commission (EPIC and get it. under such entry. After this travel more or others), you are entitled The details of the dues is done, you can leave the than 2 kms to vote. owed by the candidates to the polling station without Before you come to the Government are published proceeding to the Voting to reach the polling booth, there are some by giving an advertisement Compartment. polling booth other important aspects that you need to know as an elector and a conscientious citizen of the country.
What is the Disclosure by Candidates? Recently the Election Commission of India has made it mandatory consequent upon a Judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court that all candidates must file an affidavit along with their nomination form with details such as:- i. his/her criminal antecedents, ii. his/her assets and liabilities and those of his/her spouse and dependents, and
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The law What happens when your station that your vote has What are the grievance enables vote is challenged? already been cast, bring this redressal mechanisms In case your identity as a voter to the attention of the available to you? a voter to is challenged by a polling Presiding Officer immediately. If you have any grievance decline agent of any candidate, on the The law allows you to cast a in regard to electoral roll, casting his ground that you are not the Tendered Vote. A Tendered Electors Photo Identity Card vote at the person whose name is listed Ballot Paper, as per Rule 49P or any other election related last stage on the rolls, the Presiding of the Conduct of Elections matter you may approach Officer will ask the challenger Rules, will be given to you following Officers: to give evidence in proof, and you will be required to Chief Electoral Officer - At the of |his challenge. Similarly, sign your name on the list of State Level he will ask you for proof tendered votes. A tendered District Election Officer - At of your identity. You can ballot paper is the same as the the District Level use your EPIC or any other ballot paper displayed on the Returning Officer - At the supporting document like balloting unit, except that it Constituency Level Passport, Ration card etc. shall be endorsed on the back, Assistant Returning Officer - for this purpose. If the with the words, “Tendered At Taluka/Tehsil Level challenge is not established, Ballot Paper” either stamped Electoral Registration Officer - you will be allowed to vote. by the Returning or written At the Constituency Level However, if challenge is by the Presiding Officer at the Presiding Officer - At Polling established, you will be time of issuing it. Station debarred from voting and After marking your choice Zonal Officer - For a group of handed over to the police with of candidate with the help Polling stations a written complaint by the of Arrow Cross Mark rubber During every election, Presiding Officer. stamp you should hand over the Commission appoints the tendered ballot paper to Observers who are senior What happens if someone the Presiding Officer, who will civil service officers from else has cast the vote in keep it in a separate cover. outside the State. If you your name? Please note that in such case, have any grievances or If the First Polling Officer tells you will not cast your vote on problems, you should you on arrival inside the polling the EVM. approach them.
58 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Sowing the Seeds of Democracy The responsibility of holding elections to the local self government bodies has been entrusted to the State Election Commission. People get the training in democratic systems through the medium of local self government bodies. This shows the importance of elections to local self government bodies and its scope, says Smt. Neela Satyanarayana, State Election Commissioner.
he Election Commission T of India is regarded as guardian of free and fair elections. It is responsible for conducting elections to both the Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures and for the offices of President and Vice- President. In every election, the Election Commission issues a Model Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates to conduct elections in a free and fair manner. State Election Commission get the training in democratic WEBSITE (SEC) and the Election systems through the medium The State Election Commission Commission of India of local self government has set up its own website (ECI) are two independent bodies and to sow the seeds www.mahasec.com on which statutory bodies. The Election of democracy at the grassroot all the information with Commission of India has been through elections. This shows regards to the Commission, entrusted with the respons- the importance of elections Government Resolutions and ibility of conducting elections to local self government other information is available. to Lok Sabha and State bodies and its scope. These Websites of those Municipal Assemblies. Chief Electoral institutions include Municipal Corporations whose elections Officers (CEOs) look after the Corporations, Municipal are to be held are also readied Election Commission of India’s Councils, Zilla Parishads, and they can be searched and The work in the States. The Election Panchayat Samitis and would be visible on the State responsibility Commission of India and the Gram Panchayats. The State Election Commission website. of holding State Election Commission Election Commission has Wards in concerned Municipal elections to have similar powers. been set up with the sole Corporations/Councils the local The responsibility of idea of conducting free and reservations and their maps self- government holding elections to the local fair elections to these etc would be available on the self government bodies has institutions under Article website. Also available will bodies has been been entrusted to the State 243 K and 243 ZA of the be the information about on entrusted to Election Commission. People Constitution of India. polling booths. the SEC
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rules, decision of boundaries has been completed or not, the and distribution of seats Commissioner has to vacate along with preparation of his office. At present, Smt. voters list for the local bodies Neela Satyanarayana is the organizations like Gram State Election Commissioner Panchayat, Taluka and District with effect from July 6, 2009. Panchayat/Municipality and She is the first woman to hold Municipal Corporations of the this prestigious post of State State and conducting general/ Election Commissioner in mid-term/by-elections and Maharashtra. She is an IAS supervising them. For all Officer of the 1972 batch. The these functions, the authority State Election Commission is vested in the State Election appoints officers to dutifully Commission under Article carry out its activities and 243K under which it has various procedures. During the period of been empowered with elections, day-to-day reports Superintendence, Direction FIVE YEARS OF on election, details of and Control of elections of FUNCTIONING OF SEC expenditure of candidates, local bodies. Improvements in Polling their declaration on criminal As per the election rules Centres background, if any, and of such local self government The Commission has been property would be uploaded on organizations, District Elec- making all out efforts to ensure the sites. This gives a correct tion Officer for Panchayat that the voters exercise their picture of the candidates. elections, District Municipal right to vote and increasing This website has been Election Officer for elections of the polling percentage. A honoured by the State Marathi municipality and City Election special care is being taken Development Organisation Officer for the elections of for the senior citizens, the and CDAC and was awarded the municipal corporation have aged, pregnant women and “EDGE (Enterprises Driving been appointed. State Election handicapped people so that and Excellence Through IT) they can exercise their right 2012” award for maximum use to vote. Facilities like making of Information Technology. ramps and ensuring that their The Maharashtra Election booths are on the ground floor Commission was formed on are undertaken by the State April 26, 1994, to conduct all Election Commission. As per rural and urban local body’s the criteria for the polling elections. It is an independent centres, it is ensured that agency of the Government commission has empowered voting booths are within two of Maharashtra, and is the collectors for all activities km range of the voters and responsible for elections to related to elections of Gram are in the centrally located the Muncipal Corporations, Panchayats where as the areas, mainly in government, Municipalities, Municipal delimitation and allocation semi-government buildings. Councils, Panchayat Samitis, of seats for various reserved Care is also taken to ensure Gram Panchayats, Zilla categories, voter’s list, election that voters do not face the Parishads and other local programmes and other related problem like heat and rains Facility of government bodies. The activities are carried out by and that the polling centres are Braile script elections in this State are State Election Commission. equipped with drinking water has also conducted in accordance with A term of six years is and toilets. been made to the Constitution of India. fixed for the Chief Election Maximum voters in a booth State Election Commission Commissioner from the date on is kept low so that there are facilitate blind carries out activities related to which he assumes office. At the not very long queues and that voters to cast preparation of wards/election age of sixty-five, irrespective the voters are being cast their their votes division as per local bodies of whether the six-year term votes easily. Every voting
60 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD centre in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will have a maximum of 1,000 voters, while the remaining Municipal Corporations, Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and Gram Panchayats elections would have a maximum of 800 voters in every centre and that municipal councils would have 600 voters.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES As per the improvements, the voting machines will now have serial numbers of the automatically stop functioning. NOTA (None of the Above) A ‘Non- machines and their memory. Hence, ward and voting on its EVMs for the local Also information about ward machine’s serial number, and self Government bodies clonable’ tag number, polling centre number so also the timings of incidents elections. have been put would also be available. In in the machine and battery at the sensitive case of change in memory, capacity is being displayed. KRANTI JYOTI PROJECT part of the there would be indications. Besides, facility of Braile The State Election Commission ELectronic A ‘Non-clonable’ tag have script has also been made has undertaken ‘Kranti Jyoti’ Voting Machine been put at the sensitive part to facilitate blind voters to Project in coordination with NGOs for training of women because of elected in the local self which no government bodies elections. alterations can Initially, the project was be made launched for women elected to Gram Panchayats in ten districts. During the project, a team of women trainers from State level to village level was formed. The present focus is development of women’s personality by enlightening them on the functioning of the Gram Panchayats, burning social issues and government programmes. During the training, the women members are guided on the functioning of Panchayat Raj, Gram Panchayat Act, financial management of Gram Panchayats. The project has been given the name of “Kranti of the voting machine, hence cast their votes. In keeping Jyoti” to mark the contribution no alterations can be made. with the Supreme Court order, of Savitribai Phule to If any alterations are tried the State Election Commission women’s education and their to be done, the machine will has provided the option of empowerment.
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 61 VOTE New Weapons of Campaigning Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other networking sites are becoming one of the most popular mediums and are set to play a very vital role in influencing the outcome of general elections in at least 160 Lok Sabha constituencies says, Chandran Iyer. ocial Media is poised In fact the social networking Facebook is more likely to catch S become the most potent media like Facebook, Twitter eyeballs than any conventional weapon for political parties and other platforms greatly media. Besides the social gearing up for the 2014 general influenced the outcome of the media is being seen as a direct elections. Besides propaganda 2012 US Presidential elections. connect with the people for work, it is also becoming a Not only was Obama the first two way communication. very strong medium for taking African American to be elected pot shots at the rivals and president, but he was also the ECI TO MONITOR SOCIAL mocking at them. Morphed first presidential candidate to MEDIA CONTENTS photographs of politicians in effectively use social media To ensure decorum in online the Facebook, twisted quotes as a major campaign strategy. election campaigning, the from their speeches, vitriolic Now it is expected that the Election Commission of India political comments in Twitter same will happen in the Indian (ECI) has decided to monitor about their actions and some elections too, though on a the content that political below-the-belt jokes about lesser scale given the fact that parties and candidates post on them are becoming popular in the penetration of internet the internet and social media the social networking sites. is much less here. Hence the websites for any violation of Sensing the explosive effects of social media will electoral laws and model code growth of the social media, the be limited by the number of of conduct. Social media political parties are becoming Internet users in India. Hence the Commission is set to play a tech savvy as they realize that Political parties are realizing has issued guidelines on the very vital and this is the best way to reach that dynamics of campaigning use of social media in election decisive role and influence the young voters. are fast changing. Instead of campaigning. This is the first in influencing This is because of 790 million relying on the old method time the ECI is issuing such the outcome of eligible Indian voters, about of cardboard cutouts, poster guidelines. So far, the Election 160 million are first-time campaigns and house-to- Commission of India has only general elections voters between the ages of 18 house campaigning, it is more been monitoring content in at least 160 and 24 years old. Many of them effective to use social media to posted in print and television Lok Sabha are techno savvy especially get their messages across. media. constituencies those from urban areas. This is why the parties According to the new including the Congress, guidelines, all candidates Bhartiya Janata Party, have to declare in their Samajwadi Party, Bahujan affidavits information about Samaj Party and others have their email and social media their developed own website accounts. Further, all political and are becoming active in advertisement on “internet- the social media to showcase based websites or social the party profile, their media websites” will need goals in near future and what “pre-certification” from the the public can expect from Commission. The provisions of them. the model code of conduct will They are aware that an issue also apply to all the content breaking out on Twitter or posted on the internet.
62 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD SOCIAL MEDIA time on social media than accessed some form of social ECI has OUTREACH they do using personal email. networking. decided to Just how significant is the scale According to it, an equal Companies that offer of this social media outreach? number spend up to an hour on services to political parties monitor the According to a recent study, social networking and email. include broadcasting text content that social media is set to play a However, while just 8 per cent messages and candidate political parties very vital and decisive role in spend between an hour and voice broadcasts in several and candidates influencing the outcome of three hours on personal email, constituencies, helping to post on the general elections in at least 160 20 per cent spend the same increase website traffic of the internet and Lok Sabha constituencies. time on social media sites. political parties, posting of A study conducted by The growth of social media real time videos of leaders social media IRIS Knowledge Foundation has given rise to a new breed and their press conferences on websites and Internet and Mobile of entrepreneurs whose job networking sites and a special Association of India (IMAI) it is to provide specialized application which contains says, “There are 160 high election-related services to the profiles of candidates impact constituencies out of individual candidates or to and advertised it on internet- the total of 543 constituencies, political parties using the enabled mobile phones. which are likely be influenced digital platform. In this, they Experts feel that elections by social media during the are taking the help of software 2014 are going to be a game next general elections.’’ In professionals. In some FACEBOOK, THE MOST ACCESSED other words, it may certainly instances, political parties are • Facebook is India’s most accessed website with 97 per influence urban voters like outsourcing work to newly- cent of individuals using it. • However, LinkedIn has the highest proportion among never before. cropped IT companies which women and users above 25 years. In fact, LinkedIn India has about 62 million provide niche information of has the second highest average time spent only after Facebook. social media users and the the kind they require. • According to a study, ``the average time spent by Indian numbers are continually Many companies help netizens was 29.6 minutes on weekdays as compared to 28.8 minutes on weekend. increasing. The study in deploying state-of-the art • With the use of social media, people are building virtual categorises high impact telephony system along with communities and pressure groups. Many parents have formed groups to keep in touch with their wards and constituencies as those where updated voting slip database schools. “Facebook users account and putting into place a call • About 60% of the social networking traffic come from Non Metro-Cities but the highest traffic generating city for over 10 per cent of total centre where voters can call still remains to be a Metro i.e. Mumbai voters in a constituency.’’ Even for getting detailed voting slips though, the country’s internet on their mobile along with the changer as far as social media penetration is relatively low; name of their leader. is concerned. They believes about 150 million people out During the Karnataka that the explosive growth of a total population of 1.2 assembly elections, political of social media will reduce billion go online. According to parties set up their own the scourge of paid news the IRIS-IMAI survey, these election cells with IT experts phenomena where news is numbers are poised to go up as and professionals to propagate `planted’ in newspapers for Election Day approaches. party agenda and to take liberal monetary gains. According to a study on pot shots at the opposition. Most political parties concur social media usage by The A report on Social Media in on the role of social media. Nielsen Company conducted India by the IAMAI and Indian Many agree that the social in collaboration with Market Research Bureau, says media is going to play a big AbsolutData, nearly 30 million about 74 per cent of all active role in influencing voters as it Indians who are online are internet users in urban India is more personal and real time. members of social networking use social media. It ranks But on the flip side it remains to sites and about two-thirds after email (80 per cent) in be seen how much it influences of them spend time on these terms of usage. As per the urban voters to actually go out social networking sites on a findings, of the 80 million and vote because generally it daily basis. active internet users in urban has been observed that those More importantly, says the India, 72 per cent (about 58 active in the virtual world are study, Indians spend more million individuals) have not socially active.
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 63 VOTEVOTEOTE Evolution of Electoral System As the background of elections to Parliament is connected with the background of establishment of this House, it is essential to state a brief history of establishment of this House, says Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Anil Valvi.
lections in India, whether members of State Legislatures on the 13th May 1952. The then E at the national or State are designated voters in the first Speaker Dr. Sarvepalli levels unfold a fascinating election for President of India. Radhakrishnan announced story and it is one of the Out of the two houses of the a change in the name of this biggest equalizers because, Parliament Rajya Sabha is a House from Council of State this is a process in which the permanent House. The present to Rajya Sabha on the 23rd rich and poor, male and the Rajya Sabha was established on August 1954. In terms of Para female have equal opportunity the 3rd April 1952 and the first 80 of the Constitution of to participate to decide the session of the same was held India the maximum strength future of a Government. of members for this House As the background of has been decided as 250. The elections to Parliament is present Rajya Sabha has 245 connected with the background members out of which 233 of establishment of this House, members are elected by the The present it is essential to state a brief members of State Legislatures history of establishment of this with certified election Rajya House. process and 12 members are Sabha was Parliament is the Apex nominated by the President established on Legislative House of the of India. For the Lok Sabha the 3rd April Nation and Indian Parliament 545 members are elected from 1952 and the is constituted with President various States with voters from first session of of India, Lok Sabha (Lower constituencies casting their House) and Rajya Sabha votes directly. the same was (Upper House). All the elected After the 1857 revolt the held on the members of both houses of British Government took 13th May 1952 the Parliament and elected Gopal Krishna Gokhale away the governance of India
64 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD from East India Company and were now permitted to appear The then first acquired the same itself under for Indian Civil Service Speaker Government of India Act, examinations. 1858. Earlier in 1757 Plassy The true beginning of Indian Dr. Sarvepalli War and after 1764 Baksar War Parliamentary Democracy Radhakrishnan the rights to collect revenue was after passing the Indian announced a from Bengal and Bihar were Council Act 1892. Earlier to this change in the with East India Company. In the Indian National Congress name of this order to accentuate British had passed resolutions to House from Government involvement the this effect in 1885 and 1889 British Parliament had passed sessions. This Act provided Council of State Regulating Act 1773. Under an increase in the number of to Rajya Sabha this Act provision of a Council members and also allowed on the 23rd with four members was made Calcutta, Madras, Mumbai August 1954 in order to assist the Governor and North-West provinces to General. British occupied send one representative each Madras and Mumbai Provinces to the Indian Council. The were brought under Governor provisions of this Act were General of Bengal. This was Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan prevailing till 1909. Under this then designated as Governor Act a total of 33 members were General Council or Calcutta here. After 1857 revolt the nominated as members of the Council. Supreme Court was British Parliament passed the Indian Council between 1893 established at Fort Williams, Government of India Act 1858. and 1909. Pherozshah Mehta Calcutta. The system was in According to the 1858 (1893-1901), Aga Khan (1903), place till 1784. In 1784 the Pits Act the reign of East India Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1903- of India Act was passed. Under Company on India came to 1909) were also included here. the 1784 Act the number of an end and the British regime Eligibility criteria of voters members on the Council was took over providing powers for Council of State was enhanced to 6. This did not get for appointment of Governor decided as a person who pays much amendment till 1853. General. Under the same Act income tax on an income of Under the 1853 Act the number a post of Secretary of State not less than Rs. 10,000, or of members was raised to 12 was created and a Secretary a person paying agricultural and an Annual Competitive Council was created to taxes above Rs. 750 or a Examination for appointment assist this Secretary of State. person who is eligible to be to the Indian Civil Service. Governor General of Bengal become a Senate Member of a However Indians had no place was designated as Viceroy. University. Therefore out of a Legislative Council at Calcutta population of 24 Crore people was accorded all powers to only 17,364 were found eligible enact laws for entire India and as voters in Council of State. Mumbai and Madras Councils Women were not provided were bestowed with powers with a right to vote. for their own provinces in The number of members order for functioning of their at the Central Legislative Government. The Governor Council was decided at 145. General was further bestowed It was provided that 41 with powers to create new members from these would be provinces for Legislative appointed by nomination and purpose. However these 104 will be appointed through Legislatures had limited elections. Constituencies powers just for consultation were created for candidates purposes but were denied contesting elections. The permission for discussion on tenure at Central Legislative Pherozeshah Mehta financial matters. Indians Council was 3 years.
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Out of the 103 members was 11,35,899 out of which getting elected under this LOKSABHA 6,08,198 voters exercised ELECTIONS IN INDIA Act, 51 were General, 30 from their franchise. Out of the Muslim Constituencies, 2 Sikh, • 1st Lok Sabha (1951-52) total women voters numbering • 2nd Lok Sabha (1957) 9 European, 7 Landlords and 81,602 the women voters from • 3rd Lok Sabha (1962) 4 from industrialists. Later constituencies where elections • 4th Lok Sabha (1967) 1 member each from Delhi, • 5th Lok Sabha (1971) were held numbered 62,757. Ajmer, Mewad and Northwest • 6th Lok Sabha (1977) Out of these 14,505 women Frontier was decided. • 7th Lok Sabha (1980) exercised their voting rights. The voter eligibility criteria • 8th Lok Sabha (1984-85) After this the Government for Central Legislative Council • 9th Lok Sabha (1989) of India Act 1935 was passed was fixed as a person who • 10th Lok Sabha (1991) and under the same Provincial should be residing in an • 11th Lok Sabha (1996) Legislative Assembly elections owned or rental house with • 12th Lok Sabha (1998) were held. However the election an entitlement of rent of Rs. • 13th Lok Sabha (1999) to the Central Legislative • 14th Lok Sabha (2004) 180 or pays Rs. 15 as Annual AssemblyA was not held. After • 15th Lok Sabha (2009) Municipal Corporation Tax the end of World War II Lord or a person who pays annual VevelV announced elections Income Tax of Rs. 2,000. to the Central and Provincial According to these norms, Parties and independents – 47; Legislative Assembly on there were 9,09,874 eligible European -9; Total -104. the 19th September 1945 voters in the 1920 elections. Leader of the Democratic and also announced that an Party was Harisingh Gaur. executive committee will be GENERAL ELECTIONS On the 9th February 1921 appointed for preparation - 1920 the session was inaugurated of a Constitution after the Elections to the Rajya Sabha by British Prince Duke of elections. This election was and Central Legislative Council Connaught of Sterthen who proposed under the 1935 Act created under the 1920 Act was on a visit to India at as an election of the All India were held in November 1920. Metcalfe House, Delhi. On Federation for 375 members. India was a witness to the the 12th February 1921 the However as the local rulers of Non-cooperation Movement at foundation stone was laid for the princely States opposed the time. Therefore the Indian the new building of Parliament the move this election was National Congress boycotted and on the 18th January conducted under the 1919 Act the elections and did not 1927 the new building was for 102 seats. Indian National participate in the same. inaugurated at the hands of Congress won a highest Elections were held for 66 Viceroy and Governor General number with 59 seats at this out of 104 seats and 6 European Lord Irwin. This is the present election. The Party position in Rajya Sabha seats to the Indian Legislative Parliament House. this election was as follows: has 245 Council. In the Rajya Sabha Council of State was a Indian National Congress members out (Council of State) 24 out of permanent House and the – 59 (Leader Sarat Chandra of which 233 the 34 seats were contested. Central Legislative Assembly Bose); Muslim League - In the Provincial Council had a term of 3 years. Hence 30 (Leader Mohammad members are Elections 440 out of 637 seats the general elections were Ali Jinnah); Akali Dal - 2 ; elected by were contested and with only held in 1923, 1926, 1930 and Independents – 3; European - the members a single contender at 188 seats 1934. Here there were no 8 (Leader P. J. Grffiths). of State the elections were declared major changes in the 1919 Act. As the local rulers of princely Legislatures unopposed. Not even a single However 1934 elections saw States did not participate in and 12 candidature application was women getting a right to vote. this election it was necessary filed for 6 seats. Hence the total number of to conduct fresh elections in members are The Party position of voters for 1934 elections stood order to appoint an executive nominated by elected members to the Central at 14,15,892. The number of committee for preparation of the President Legislative Council was: voters in constituencies where the Constitution. As such this of India Democratic Party - 48; Other the elections were contested election proved short-lived.
66 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD A Historical Perspective of General Elections The conduction of elections and the formation of a democratically elected Government was a great test for India and her administration, as many across the world had doubts about the success of democracy in India. This was more so as India had a mere 15 per cent literate population, according a BBC report of the First General Elections in India, says Abhay Mokashi. hough India attained T Freedom on August 15, 1947, it took nearly four years for her to form the parliament and to have a Government of Independent India. Before Independence, India had a Parliament, which was known as the Imperial Legislative Council and the two houses of that Parliament were known as the Central Legislative Assembly - the Lower House, now the Lok Sabha and the Council of States - the Upper House, today’s Rajya Sabha. The first general elections in the country were held in 1920 for election to the Central Legislative Assembly, but these elections were under the British Rule. However, there are several historical references of democratic processes being followed in The conduction ancient India. The Constitution drafted by merely during the First of elections and When India attained the Constituent Assembly was General Elections, but for all Independence, it was still adopted by it on November times to come. Making this the formation of not clear as to what form of 26, 1949 and came into effect an essential requirement, the a democratically Government she would have on January 26, 1950, paving framers of the Constitution elected as we were yet to adopt a the way for the conduction of made way for the formation Government was Constitution. The interim the First General Elections of of the Election Commission a great test for Government at the time of Independent India. of India, an independent India and her Independence was led by The biggest challenge statutory body responsible for Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was also to ensure that the the conduction of free and fair administration”, who became the Prime elections are conducted freely, elections. BBC report of Minister heading that interim without the influence of the The Election Commission the First General government. Government in power, not had been set up on January Elections in India
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25, 1950 and the Chief Election electoral rolls had to be purpose of constituting a new According to Commissioner assumed charge prepared. House of the People on the the Election on March 21, 1950. Making a statement in expiration of the duration of Commission It was assumed that the the Parliament on April 19, the existing House or on its of India, elections would be held in 1950, Prime Minister Pandit dissolution...” In this case, it 1950, but that was not possible Jawaharlal Nehru expressed was for the formation of the 17,32,13,635 for a variety of reasons viz. the the hope that the elections first such House. voters were Electoral Law had not been would be held sometime The conduction of registered in passed; the constituencies in 1951. elections and the formation the whole of reserved for the Scheduled The General Elections were of a democratically elected India, of these, Castes and Scheduled Tribes held under The Representation Government was a great test for approximately had to be specified by a of People Act, 1951, the base for India and her administration, Presidential order, as was which was The Representation as many across the world had 45 per cent required statutorily; the of People Act, 1950. Section doubts about the success of were women delimitation of constituencies 14 of the Act says, “A general democracy in India. This was voters had to be worked out and election shall be held for the more so as India had a mere 15 per cent literate population, according a BBC report of HOW ELECTION SYMBOL ALLOCATED the First General Elections in There was also a valid criticism that majority of the voters being illiterate, India. will not be able to read the names of the candidates and the political parties on the ballot paper, thus there would be no secrecy in voting, as Elections had been held they would be forced to take the help of a literate person. A solution to this for different Provincial was found in the use of election symbols, with political parties getting a Legislatures before the First fixed symbol across the country and independent candidates being given General Elections, but, these symbols for their respective constituencies. were not on the basis of The Election Commission held a meeting of representatives of political universal adult suffrage and parties in New Delhi to discuss the allocation of symbols to the political the voting right was based parties. The meeting, which was presided over by the Chief Election on taxation, property, level Commissioner, was attended by representatives of Indian National of literacy, caste, community Congress, All India Forward Bloc (Ruikar Group), All India Forward Bloc and the like. Travancore was (Marxist Group), Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, Kisan Mazdoor Praja the only exception to this, as Party, Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad and Socialist Party. The parties gave its preferences for the symbols and the Communist Party of India it adopted the universal adult wrote to the Commission giving its preferences for the symbols. suffrage in 1948. Though The Election Commission announced the allocation of symbols in two there was opposition for stages - on August 2 and 17, 1951. An interesting point about the symbols universal adult suffrage from is that in the first list, the All India Forward Bloc (Ruikar Group) was given some quarters in the country, the symbol of its first preference, that being the human hand, which is there were many in favour today the symbol of the Indian National Congress. of it. In fact, in 1928, the Nehru Committee, which was
68 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD appointed by the All Parties upon. The issue was resolved had registered as voters. The The Election Conference to determine the by the Constituent Assembly, figures also revealed that most principles of the Constitution which decided that a person of the persons above the age of Commission of India, had recommended who had migrated from 21 years by the census of 1951 issued strict universal adult suffrage, after Pakistan could register as a had enrolled themselves as instructions weighing the arguments for voter anywhere in the country, voters. to the and against it. by merely giving a declaration Unlike in the Western enumerators Yet, there were different that he/she wishes to reside World, where the political to ensure that views on the issue and some of permanently in that place. This parties have to take initiative those favouring universal adult brought about a significant to register the citizens as the names of suffrage also suggested that change in the electoral rolls voters, right from the First the women it should be included in the prepared for the earlier General Elections, the Election were recorded Constitution as a Fundamental elections. Also, the qualifying Commission of India took properly so that Right. It was the faith of the date for reference to age the initiative to do so in our they get the framers of the Constitution and for being a resident of a country and the result was right to vote in the Indian masses, that constituency was also revised, the huge number of people eventually led to the acceptance which resulted in increase in registered as voters. of universal adult suffrage and the number of voters. The Election Commission it was incorporated in Article A methodology was also also came across an odd 326 of the Constitution, which worked out to ensure that every situation in case of a large states that elections to the district had an electoral roll and number of women voters in House of the People and to the that relevant parts be available the country, while finalising Legislative Assembly of every in every tehsil, panchayat the electoral rolls for the State shall be held on the basis office, police station etc. First General Elections; these of adult suffrage. According to the Election women were not registered in Preparing the electoral Commission of India, their names, but were recorded rolls was a very important 17,32,13,635 voters were describing their relationship task, though the electoral rolls registered in the whole of with a male member of for the 1949 elections were India, (excluding Jammu the family like somebody’s ready. The problem, however, & Kashmir), of these, mother/daughter/wife. This was that those electoral rolls approximately 45 per cent was because conservative mentioned whether a voter were women voters. The total women would not give their was a Muslim, Christian or population of India (excluding names to strangers and a member of the Scheduled Jammu & Kashmir) according followed the system with the Caste or Scheduled Tribe. With to the 1951 census was enumerators. However, the the abolition of the reservation 35,66,91,760, which means 49 Election Commission issued of constituencies on the basis per cent of the total population strict instructions to the of religion that column was not required, except for the purpose of identification of a member of the Scheduled caste or Scheduled Tribe in case he or she wished to contest the elections from there reserved constituency. Another hurdle in the preparation of the electoral rolls was that the definition of citizen of India had not been finalised by the Constituent Assembly and the status of those who had migrated from Pakistan had to be decided
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are conducted properly HISTORY OF BALLOT and in order to familiarise A ballot is a device used to cast votes in an election, and may be a piece of the electoral staff with the paper or a small ball used in secret voting.[1] It was originally a small ball procedures, a rehearsal was (see blackballing) used to record decisions made by voters. held in Udaipur, Rajasthan Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. In the simplest on August 5, 1951. elections, a ballot may be a simple scrap of paper on which each voter The First General writes in the name of a candidate, but governmental elections use pre- Election in the country printed to protect the secrecy of the votes. The voter casts his/her ballot in a box at apolling station. was a very long process, In British English, this is usually called a “ballot paper. The word ballot is with the commencement used for an election process within an organisation (such as a trade union on September 10, 1951 and “holding a ballot” of its members). conclusion on June 4, 1952. he word ballot comes from Italian ballotta, meaning a “small ball used in The actual casting of votes voting” or a “secret vote taken by ballots” in Venice, Italy was in Chini and Pangi in The first use of paper ballots to conduct an election appears to have Himachal. These assembly been in Rome in 139 BC. constituencies were the first to In Ancient India, around 920 AD, in Tamil Nadu, Palm leaves were used go to the polls on October 25, for village assembly elections. The palm leaves with candidate names, will 1951 and the parliamentary be put inside a mud pot, for counting. This was called Kudavolaisystem. polls for these segments were also held simultaneously, as was the case in other parts of enumerators to ensure that purchased 24,73,850 steel the country. This was to ensure the names of the women were ballot boxes from various that the conduction of polls recorded properly so that they suppliers in the country, was over before the snowfall get the right to vote. using 8,165.45 tonnes of steel began. A one-month extension was for the purpose. Apart from There were many aspirants given in Bihar and Rajasthan this, 1,11,095 boxes made to the First Lok Sabha, with for women to register their from wood had to be used in 2,833 candidates filing their correct names. While the Madras State as the supplier nominations. However, 1,874 response to this move was there failed to honour the remained in the fray with very good in Bihar, very few commitment for steel ballot the nomination of 133 being women from Rajasthan came boxes. The total cost of ballot rejected and 826 aspirants forward to take advantage of boxes came to Rs 1,22,87,349. withdrawing their candidature. the extension. The cost per voter for the Fifty-three political parties Yet the situation cannot be First General Elections came participated in the First said to be good, as of the 80 to 4.8 annas. General Elections, of which 14 million women on the voter To ensure that the elections were national parties. list, only about 71 million remained, with the names of the remaining being dropped for failure to disclose their proper names. Most of these women belonged to the States of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Bharat, Rajasthan and Vindhya Pradesh. Printing of the electoral The cost per rolls was a stupendous task and the Election Commission voter for the has recorded that 3,84,215 First General reams of paper were used for Elections came the printing of the rolls. to 4.8 annas The Election Commission
70 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD Another important task was the delimitation of constituencies. The First Lok Sabha was to be of 497 elected members and two members from the Anglo-Indian were to be nominated by the President of India under Article 331 of the Constitution, bringing the strength of the House to 499. There were some multi-seat constituencies, which were abolished in 1960. Since the election process was spread over a long period of time, it gave enough time for aspirants to reach out to the people. As the results show, The Press also helped in the counting went on for 20 The voter most of those elected were educating the voters about the days. already known to the people at elections, carrying features The Indian National turnout was large due to their participation and even answering questions Congress, which contested 479 around 51.15 in the Freedom Movement, from readers on the elections, seats, won 364 seats, while the per cent and social and political fields or as thus helping the Election next highest numbers of seats of the 2,96,828 members of the Constituent Commission in its task. Central were won by the Communist postal ballots Assembly. The difficulty was and State Governments came Party of India, which won 16 issued, 1,07,000 for the lesser known candidates out with documentary films of the 49 seats it contested. and parties, who had to make on elections and the Election The Socialist Party, which exercised their all efforts to reach out the Commission ensured that won 12 seats, had put up 254 votes people. Many resorted to these films were free from candidates. prabhat pheris, which were political bias. The Chief The First Lok Sabha was popularised during the struggle Election Commissioner gave constituted on April 17, 1952 for Independence. Apart from several talks over All India with G V Mavalankar as the this, bicycles and bullock carts Radio to educate the voters on first Speaker of the Lok Sabha. were the known means of the elections. The First Lok Sabha saw transport for most candidates A thought was given to allot eminent members in the House, to reach out to the voters. time to the political parties on prominent among them being The political parties also All India Radio for propaganda, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, V N concentrated on educating but given the large number of Gadgil, Maulana Abul Kalam the voters on the electoral parties and being unsure of the Azad, Dr C D Deshmukh, Dr process, making the task of the credentials of some of them, Punjabrao Deshmukh, Babu Commission easy. the Commission advised the Jagjivan Ram, Gulzarilal A trend that started during Government against allotting Nanda, S Nijalingappa, R the First General Elections time on All India Radio to Venkataraman, Harindranath continues even today; political parties. Chhatopadhyaya, Dr Karni Newspapers mushroomed The voter turnout was Singh amd Dr Shyama Prasad during that period primarily to around 51.15 per cent and of Mookerjee. advocate the policies and stand the 2,96,828 postal ballots Among the lady members of one party or the other. The issued, 1,07,000 exercised of the First Lok Sabha were: Election Commission of India their votes. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, has noted that 397 newspapers The counting of votes was Anusayabai Borkar, Subhadra started during the period and a stupendous task and in Joshi, Sucheta Kriplani, most ceased publication soon one two-seat parliamentary Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and after the elections. constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Tarkeshwari Sinha.
MAHARASHTRA AHEAD MARCH-APRIL 2014 71 VOTE Right to Reject Political parties will now have to be careful while selecting their candidates and even the voters cannot just put an argument to avoid election. With the introduction of NOTA, the polling percentage is bound to increase. Also, this would show how much of negative voting would be helpful in keeping the democracy alive, says, Senior Assistant Director, Dr. Dilip Sadhle.
NOTA
ndia is considered to be one scores decisively over national of NOTA (None of the Above) I of the biggest democracies interest and issues relating to the voter. Accepting the in the world having a multi- to India’s sovereignty and right of negative voting, the party democratic system. But integrity. Supreme Court directed the one of the biggest problems Unfortunately it is the inclusion the option of right plaguing this country is the common people of India who to reject all the candidates. Criminalisation of Politics. In are on the receiving end at the There is a provision in the fact India has more than 1,000 time of elections as they are Representation of Peoples Act, sitting MP’s and MLA’s with a forced to choose the “lesser but the voter had to earlier criminal background. Several evil” instead of none. They are make an application for it. scams and scandals have caught in a vicious circle where However, with the court’s emerged since last many years political parties claim that it directive, it is not required which have shaken the faith is the voters who elect these now. As per the Supreme of the common man from the tainted candidates, whereas Court order, the State’s political system. the voters claim that they Election Commission provided Maharashtra This is obvious from the fact do not have any choice and the NOTA option to the was the that over the last few years, have to vote for candidates or electorate during the election first State crime and money have been political parties they believe to to the local self government to introduce playing a larger than ever role be less tainted than the others. bodies. Elections to municipal NOTA option in in Indian electoral politics, There has been a positive corporations, zilla parishads, the local self reflecting a marked rise in change after a landmark panchayat samitis,, municipal the wealth of many winning judgement by the Supreme councils and panchayats government candidates with criminal Court of India. The apex court and gram panchayats since bodies records. The other big scourge on September 27, 2013, in its December 1, 2013, have had elections is the vote-bank politics which order has provided the option the option of NOTA on the
72 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD EVMs. Maharashtra was the corporations, zilla parishads/ if the NOTA votes are more first State to introduce this panchayat samitis and gram than the elected candidate, the option in the elections to the panchayats. In the first candidate polling maximum local self government bodies. elections in Maharashtra after votes gets elected. Some NOTA is a step in the right the option of right to reject, 2.21 people feel it is an insult to direction as it goes a long per cent voters used the option democracy. But, this is a new way to make democracy more of NOTA in the municipal beginning. Since the number inclusive. It helps the people corporation elections in Dhule of voters exercising the NOTA The NOTA to vent their displeasure on and Ahmednagar, while 5.03 option is now available, maybe has been politicians or political parties per cent in Dhule, Nandurbar, in future the NOTA votes could widely used whom they view to be of Akola and Washim zilla be taken into consideration in recently questionable character. parishad and panchayat while declaring the results. The option of ‘NOTA’ now samitis polls, 6.07 per cent This is an important held five State enables a voter to exercise his in Karjat (Raigad district), step taken by the election Assembly right to vote without voting Shrigonda (Ahmednagar), commission and the Supreme elections for any candidate if he does not want to vote for any of the candidates. Ballot papers or electronic voting machines will now have ‘None Of The Above’ (NOTA) at the end of all the names of candidates along with their symbols. A voter wanting to use his right to reject can now press the NOTA button to exercise his right to vote. The constitution has provided every citizen the right to vote. Government of the people by the elected people is democracy. In a democracy, vote of every person is important because through this vote, we elect people’s representatives and through them the government. We Sillod (Aurangabad), Risod Court in strengthening the would not like to vote if we feel (Washim), Brahmapuri democracy. A voter can use the the candidate is not proper. (Chandrapur) and Mauda NOTA option if he/she feels But now if one feels so, he (Nagpur) municipal council that neither of the candidates can do so. If a voter feels that elections and two per cent are worth casting the vote. neither of the candidates on voters in the gram panchayat Political parties will now have the ballot paper or electronic elections exercised this option. to be careful while selecting voting machines is worth to While declaring the their candidates and even vote, but he can still exercise results, a candidate polling the voters cannot just put an his right to vote with the option maximum votes is declared argument to avoid election. of “None of the above” (NOTA) elected without taking into With the introduction of now being available. consideration the number NOTA, the polling percentage The option of NOTA has of votes cast under NOTA. is bound to increase. Also, been widely used in the With this option on the this would show how much recently held elections to EVMs, the number of voters of negative voting would the Assemblies of five States exercising the NOTA option is be helpful in keeping the and those for the municipal immediately available. Even democracy alive.
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Towards Record Break Voting …
The 16th Lok Sabha Elections will be held in contribution in infusing confidence among women Maharashtra on April 10, 17 and 24. Coinciding with is invaluable. We are grateful for the co-operation this occasion we are happy to present you a special extended by the Commission. issue on elections. When the issue was in the making, the Additional The enrollment drive was a challenging work as it Commissioner of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, involved awakening people from the hinterlands and Smt. Manisha Patankar-Mhaiskar took over as different parts of the State. The Election Commission Secretary, Medical Education, and Drug Department of India implemented and continued the Systematic as well as Directorate General of Information Voters Education and Electoral Participation and Public Relations. Everyone is aware that it (SVEEP) programme to create awareness in a big is she who gave a new lease of life to the Lokrajya way. This was implemented properly by taking and Maharashtra Ahead. We welcome her in the the help of various folk arts, traditional media, family of the Directorate once again. Meanwhile, electronic medium, National Service Schemes Shri Pramod Nalawade the then Director General (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), etc. The drive and Secretary was posted as Secretary, General has been successful with a huge enrollment of first Administration Department. We are deeply time voters. indebted to him for his excellent contribution to Henceforth the Government machinery has a the department. herculean task in hand for carrying out the whole Principal Secretary and Chief Electoral process smoothly. It involves imparting training Officer of Maharashtra, Hon. Shri Nitin to the employees and officers, putting into place Gadre; Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, proper security arrangements, setting up the polling Shri Shirish Mohod and their colleagues have centres, sending polling instruments to the centres, extended their invaluable contribution for shaping enforcement of model code of conduct, keeping track up the issue. They are working tirelessly to create of projection of candidates and political parties over voter awareness so that maximum number of people electronic, print and social media and other forms of from Maharashtra exercise their electoral franchise. reaching out to the voters. I am sure that people of Maharashtra will transform The election period, from announcement of this dream into reality. elections to results, is one of the biggest challenges The maps included in the section ‘Lok Sabha for any Government machinery. However Constituencies At A Glance’ are specially designed Maharashtra has time and again met the challenge by Shri Vivekanand Ghare, Head, Mumbai Branch successfully. Hon. Chief Secretary Shri J. S. Saharia Office, Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application has expressed confidence in his message that this Centre through his machinery. We express our time too the State will maintain its tradition. sincere thanks to him. This special issue also gives information This issue not only gives a clear idea as to how about the functioning of the State Election Maharashtra is gearing up to face the 16th Lok Commission. Hon. Smt. Neela Satyanarayana Sabha Elections, but is also a repository of valuable has the honour of becoming the first woman State information which will prove to be a collector’s item. Election Commissioner of Maharashtra. She has implemented various innovative experiments Pralhad Jadhav for empowerment of women councilors. Her Editor-in-Chief, ‘Maharashtra Ahead’, DGIPR
74 MARCH-APRIL 2014 MAHARASHTRA AHEAD By Upholding The Democratic Tradition of Our Country And Without Being Influenced By Any Considerations or Inducements We Will Vote Fearlessly for Strongest Democracy O.I.G.S. Presented by The Government of India MAHARASHTRA AHEAD
Digamber W. Palve Senior Assistant Director, Directorate General of Information and Public Relations, Maharashtra Government, Barrack No. 19, Free Press Journal Marg, Mumbai 400 021.
Printed at Maharshi Printers Pvt. Ltd., 112, New Tejpal Industrial Estate, A.K. Road, Sakinaka, Andheri (East), Mumbai - 400 072. Published by Directorate General of Information & Public Relations, Mantralaya, Mumbai 400 032 on behalf of Government of Maharashtra. Editor-in-Chief Pralhad Jadhav, Director General of Information and Public Relations.