Journalism of Courage
The Pune Municipal Corporation received 484 objections to electoral panels and reservations for 2012 civic elections. Suggestions and objections were accepted till Saturday.
PMC election officer Praveen Ashitkar said they had received 484 objections of which 438 pertained to boundaries,18 to reservations and the remaining 28 to issues on population census figures.
Ashitkar said they would forward the objections to the state election commission.
A hearing date will be issued and the final result will be declared later, said Ashitkar.
Many societies have stated their objections regarding population census and the division of the panel. There are many issues regarding boundaries and even roads, said corporators.
The draft of the panels is published in the gazette. This years drive has greater significance because of the state governments decision to reserve 50 per cent seats for women. The seats are usually distributed in five categories,women,scheduled caste,scheduled tribe,other backward classes and the open category. As per the election commissions orders,the final figures of the 2011 census will be considered for formation of panels.
Meanwhile,the National Society for Clean Cities (NSCC) said suggestions and objections from citizens need to be taken into account,considering the fact that there are over 31 lakh citizens and about 24 lakh voters. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the system of electoral panels has to be explained to people and that the ward boundaries have changed considerably than what they were. Common man will take time to understand the new system and the new ward boundaries, said members of NSCC in their letter to the election commission.
