Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday ordered a crackdown on fake news on social media as assembly elections approach in Maharashtra. Reviewing the state’s election preparedness with fellow Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S.S. Sandhu, Kumar urged state police to expedite investigations into electoral offenses from the recent Lok Sabha elections.
At a press conference in Mumbai, Kumar said, “We met all stakeholders including political parties and officials ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections. Political parties told us to announce Maharashtra assembly polls keeping in mind festivals like Diwali. I am that confident Maharashtra will contribute to festival of democracy,” he said.
During their visit to Mumbai, the Election Commission met with district electoral officers, superintendents of police, municipal commissioners, and other senior officials. Kumar asserted that misinformation would not be tolerated and instructed officials to respond swiftly to such issues.
He also said that the ECI has asked the Maharashtra government to shift officials who have served in home district or current posting for over three years.
He reviewed facilities at polling stations and directed officers to ensure effective management of voter queues on election days. Kumar called for personal visits to polling sites by district electoral officers to assess arrangements, including seating for voters, drinking water access, and parking in congested areas.
There will be 1,00,186 polling booths in Maharashtra assembly elections, the CEC said.
The commission also sought updates on electoral offences related to the Lok Sabha elections and instructed a review of cases involving personnel, electronic voting machines, and social media.
Kumar also expressed his concern over the urban voter apathy, and said efforts are being made to ensure maximum polling in the ensuing Maharashtra polls. He said that areas like Colaba and Kalyan in and around Mumbai which have recorded among the lowest voter turnout in the Lok Sabha polls held this year.
Daily wage earners and others in the unorganised sector should be informed by the administration that voting day will be a paid holiday for them, he said.
Kumar and his fellow commissioners are on a two-day visit to Maharashtra, where the assembly term ends on November 26. Elections are expected to be announced next month.