Writ challenges State vote counting method

The writ petition filed before the division bench of Justice S B Mashe and Justice N V Dabholkar, by Congress candidate from Gangapur Assembly constituency, Krishna Patil Dongaonkar argues that a centre-wise counting would help candidates and parties know where their strength and weaknesses lie. This would further help them concentrate on areas which remained away from the development process, the petition stated. A centre-wise counting would be in the larger interest of the society, the petition states.

The petition challenging the State ElectionCommissioner8217;s notification dated September 27, directing returning officer to conduct a combined counting under rule 56 of the 1961 Election Rules, has contended that such provisions were made keeping in mind a few constituencies in the state of Bihar and other sensitive constituencies8217; only. As far as Maharashtra was concerned the situation was far different and did not call for any such measures, the petition states. Moreover, even in the present elections, except for Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde8217;s constituency, Renapur, no violence was reported from anywhere, the petition states.

The petition also pointed out that in Mumbai, where the votes were cast through electronic machines,8217; the counting would be carried out centre-wise.

Carrying out counting in different manner in different constituencies would lead to disparities in the process, the petition contended. C S B Talekar, is arguing for K P Dongaonkar. Legal circles were mum when asked to react on the repercussions of the petition.