Maharashtra Opposition Unites to Demand Electoral Transparency Ahead of Local Body Polls

Mumbai:

In an unprecedented display of solidarity, leaders from Maharashtra's principal Opposition parties collectively approached state Chief Electoral Officer S Chokalingam on Tuesday, advocating for enhanced transparency and accountability from the election authority before the repeatedly postponed local body elections.

The multi-party delegation, featuring prominent figures including Sharad Pawar (NCP-Sharad Pawar), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT), Raj Thackeray (MNS), Balasaheb Thorat (Congress), Jayant Patil (Peasants and Workers Party), Ajit Navle (CPM), and Subhash Lande (CPI), presented a collective memorandum on Tuesday.

Their statement claimed the Commission was "undermining public confidence" through secretive voter list management and its choice to abandon Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in the forthcoming civic elections. Referencing Bihar's recent SIR initiative as a model, the leaders insisted Maharashtra should implement comparable measures to rebuild faith in its electoral procedures.

"The Election Commission functions as an independent entity, at least theoretically," stated the memorandum. "However, examining its current operations raises questions about its genuine autonomy," it further noted.

Key Concerns Raised

The memorandum highlights six critical issues. First, it mentions the lack of disclosure regarding voter names eliminated from electoral registers during the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The delegation demanded public listing of all removals with explanations, asserting that voters possess a fundamental entitlement to understand why their names were excluded.

Second, the Opposition questioned the unpublished status of voter list amendments made between October 2024 and July 2025.

They contended that political organizations and citizens are being prevented from verifying the registers and cautioned that withholding this information might suggest "political influence or concealed agendas".

Another significant dispute involves the Commission's resolution to conduct upcoming elections using the voter list from July 1, 2025. Opposition representatives argue this would unjustly exclude numerous young voters turning 18 after that date, compelling them to wait another five years to exercise their democratic privilege.

The delegation also highlighted concerns about duplicate voter registration among interstate migrants, urging the Commission to implement a "de-duplication campaign" similar to Bihar's initiative. "If the Election Commission organized a special drive to eliminate duplicate voters in Bihar before Assembly elections, why is no comparable effort visible in Maharashtra prior to local body polls?" the document questioned.

Demand for VVPAT or Ballot Paper Voting

The harshest criticism targeted the Commission's intention to conduct civic polls without VVPAT machines, citing equipment shortages. The Opposition rejected this justification as inadequate. "The local body elections have been outstanding since 2022. What preparatory measures were undertaken during these four years?" the statement inquired.

Pointing to public skepticism regarding Electronic Voting Machines or EVMs, the delegation demanded that VVPATs become mandatory. "If implementing the identical system proves impossible in Mumbai, where ward-based voting doesn't exist, then elections must proceed using ballot papers," stated the memorandum.

Leaders additionally challenged Maharashtra's multi-member ward system, describing it as "perplexing for voters" and susceptible to post-election conflicts among corporators. They encouraged the Election Commission to thoroughly reassess this model.

Call For Independent Action

The joint declaration concluded by emphasizing that the Election Commission's reputation is "imperiled". It encouraged the organization to "function without bias or external influence" and implement reforms addressing growing public mistrust.

"Our concerns represent not merely political party interests but questions raised by every ordinary citizen," the leaders emphasized.

Pending Polls

Local body elections throughout Maharashtra, including vital civic bodies like the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune, Thane, and Nashik, have remained overdue since 2022. The Supreme Court recently instructed the state to finalize the polls by January 31, 2026, following multiple postponements.

The Opposition has accused the state government of deliberately delaying elections to evade municipal-level accountability. Meanwhile, the Election Commission maintains that logistical challenges and ward restructuring processes have necessitated schedule adjustments.

With 2026 civic polls approaching, the unified Opposition has indicated its intention to prioritize electoral transparency and voter rights as central political issues, potentially establishing the framework for Maharashtra's next significant political confrontation.