Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: ECI holds back-to-back meetings in Mumbai

Mumbai: With the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls round the corner, the Election Commission of India is holding back-to-back meetings in Mumbai for preparations in this western Indian state and held consultations with political parties and heard them out. 

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday evening. 

They were received by Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam. 

The CEC presided over several meetings on Thursday.

The ECI met top Maharashtra officials including Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik and Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla.

Earlier in the day, the Commission had met representatives of national and state parties for their feedback.

The 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is expected to go to polls mid-November - and this would be the biggest state election after the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

The ECI delegation has two days packed with meetings with a wide range of stakeholders including political parties, state and enforcement officials, as well as district Collectors and Superintendents of Police.

The political parties came out with various suggestions. 

The Congress has opposed the decision to set up polling stations in housing societies and asked for transfer of police officers who had served for long in a police station. 

The BJP team asked that the polling days should be on weekdays and not weekends. 

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has sought facilities for senior citizens.

The Shiv Sena NCP, NCP (SP), AAP, BSP representatives also conveyed their suggestions and demands.