SEC Moves EVMs for Rural Polls, Reviews Date Change Plea
The State Election Commission in Maharashtra has initiated a major logistical operation. They are redeploying electronic voting machines from recent municipal elections for upcoming rural local body polls.
Technical Transition Underway
State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare has issued clear instructions to municipal commissioners. They must complete the technical transition by Monday evening. The process involves removing memory cards from all EVMs used in municipal elections.
These memory cards will receive secure storage in government treasuries. Officials explained this preservation measure serves an important purpose. It ensures evidence remains available if any election petitions reach the courts later.
After memory card removal, the EVMs themselves will transfer to district collectors. The equipment will serve in zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections across twelve districts.
District-Wide Deployment Plan
The redeployment plan focuses on movement within the same districts. This approach minimizes transportation needs and streamlines the process. The twelve affected districts span three administrative divisions.
Five districts come from Pune division. Three belong to Konkan division. Four districts fall under Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division.
These districts include Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, and Latur. The model code of conduct is already active across all these areas.
Significant Electoral Stakes
The upcoming elections carry substantial importance for rural governance. Voters will decide the fate of 731 zilla parishad seats. They will also elect representatives for 1,462 panchayat samiti seats.
Voting is currently scheduled for February 5. Counting will follow on February 7. However, this timeline now faces potential adjustment.
Date Change Request Under Consideration
MLA Vishwajit Kadam has formally requested a polling date change. He cited the annual yatra of Shri Mayakka Devi at Chinchli. This religious event coincides directly with the February 5 election date.
Kadam highlighted the yatra's significant regional impact. It attracts devotees from Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Participation is particularly heavy from Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Solapur districts.
Commissioner Waghmare confirmed the commission is examining this request carefully. They have sought detailed reports from divisional commissioners and district collectors. The commission will make its decision only after reviewing all feedback from these officials.
This redeployment operation represents a critical preparation phase for long-pending rural elections. The commission balances logistical efficiency with responsiveness to community concerns about polling dates.
