Two delegations of Opposition leaders in Maharashtra met senior election officials in the state on Tuesday before the upcoming local body polls, and raised several concerns, ranging from questioning why no special intensive revision of electoral rolls was carried out in the state if the same could be implemented in Bihar before the Assembly elections to demanding that voting be conducted using ballot papers.
While one delegation of senior Opposition leaders met Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam, another met State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare.
The Opposition asked the poll body to consider the use of VVPAT machines in the Mumbai elections since there is no ward system. “Mumbai does not have a multi-ward system. If the Election Commission cannot provide VVPATs even to Mumbai, then we demand that the election in Mumbai be held on ballot papers,” the letter submitted by the opposition leaders’ delegation said.
The Indian Express reported on Monday that the State Election Commission has already conveyed to the Election Commission that it cannot hold SIR in Maharashtra until January 2026 as the Supreme Court has directed to complete the local body polls procedure before January 31, 2026.
With the hour-long meeting with Chockalingam ending inconclusively, a joint meeting of Opposition leaders with both Chockalingam and Waghmare is scheduled for Wednesday.
Former chief ministers Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray, Congress Working Committee member Balasaheb Thorat, Peasants and Workers Party general secretary Jayant Patil, Ajit Nawale and Subhash Lande of Left parties and Rais Sheikh of the Samajwadi Party met Chockalingam with the demand letter.
“The Opposition parties highlighted several problems in the voters’ list in a meeting held with the CEO. We have requested that our point should be heard jointly by the State Election Commission and CEO, who is the representative of the Election Commission of India. Our demand is that the voters’ list should be rectified before the local body polls. We presented a number of examples such as a son having age more than his father, more than a 100 people living in one room, etc,” former minister and NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil said.
Concerns over list of voter deletions, additions raised
The letter raised six points. It alleged that the Election Commission has not made public the list of names deleted and added in the updated voters’ list to be used for the local body polls. Pointing out that a number of voters from different states reside in urban parts of the state, the letter said that many of them have registered their names twice, in their home state and in Maharashtra.
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“This is a crime. The Election Commission is responsible for ensuring that this does not happen. What efforts are being taken by the Election Commission for the same? If the Election Commission has undertaken a special campaign to remove double voters in Bihar before the Assembly polls, then why can’t we see a similar effort in Maharashtra before local body polls?,” the letter asked.
The letter also raised the question on the State Election Commission’s decision to not use VVPAT machines in local body polls. Waghmare has already said that VVPAT machines will not be used in these polls. “We have spent over thousands of crores on these VVPATs. What is the use of it if we are not going to use them? Common people have no trust in EVMs. The only way of confirming the vote is VVPAT and now you are going to close the same,” said the letter.
Sources within the SEC said that due to the multi-ward system in local bodies, except Mumbai, the use of VVPATs is virtually impossible.
After the meeting, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said, “Two of our delegations held meetings at two places. One was with the CEO and the other was with the State Election Commission. The meeting with the CEO was incomplete as there is going to be yet another meeting tomorrow (Wednesday). There will be a joint meeting of the CEO and State Election Commission with Opposition parties.”
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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