Nearly 4,400 BMC staffers yet to be relieved from LS poll duty, says civic body

Lok Sabha elections were held in the country in seven phases. In Maharashtra, the polling was conducted in five phases between April 19 and May 20. In Mumbai, it was held on May 20.

Talking to PTI, a senior civic official said that BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has already written to the collectors of both Mumbai city and Mumbai suburban district on the issue, but the officers and staffers have not been relieved till date.

According to the BMC officials, the EC had also sought the services of another 11,500 BMC staffers for three to four days on the day of polling (May 20) and counting of votes (June 4), but all of them were relieved immediately after the task.

BMC officers said that absence of such a large number of officers and staffers affected the pre-monsoon works of the civic body and it continues to hamper the work.

“Completing the pre-monsoon works became a challenge for the BMC due to the unavailability of the officers and staffers who were absorbed by the BMC for the election duty,” said Vijay Balamwar, divisional municipal commissioner of the BMC.

When contacted, Rajendra Kshirsagar, collector of Mumbai suburban district, said they have relieved all the employees except those required for the forthcoming assembly election preparations.

Sanjay Yadav, collector of Mumbai city, could not be reached for his comment on the issue.

The BMC officials said that if the election commission needs officers and staffers for upcoming elections, rather than retaining those already deputed, it should request others to replace the current officers and staffers.