Avhad seeks revision of electoral rolls in Maha

NCP MLA Jitendra Avhad today approached the Bombay High Court seeking a direction to poll authorities to carry out revision of electoral rolls of all the constituencies of Maharashtra.
Avhad, in his public interest litigation, said before the next civic elections in 2019, a revision of electoral rolls has to be carried out.
"The polls conducted this year were marred as scores of voters could not vote due to various reasons. The fact that the voters' list was defective was vouched by all political parties," the petition said seeking a direction to the Election Commission of India and the Maharashtra Election Commission.

"Unless the electoral roll is prepared strictly in accordance with the provisions of law, it will have no sanctity and an election conducted on such defective electoral roll will tilt the balance of power," the petition said.
In his petition, Avhad has sought for a committee to be set up that shall conduct a study and then submit suggestions to the Election Commission as to how a flawless electoral roll can be prepared.
The petition will come up for hearing before a division bench in due course of time.
Elections to 10 civic bodies in Maharashtra, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), were held on February 21. There were complaints that several voters, especially in Mumbai, could not exercise their franchise as their names were missing from the electoral rolls.