Mumbai: The State Election Commission (SEC) continued to face criticism from both the ruling and opposition parties for creating confusion by postponing polling at select municipal councils and nagar panchayats at the eleventh hour. Parties saw Tuesday’s ruling of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court that postponed counting of votes to Dec 21 from Dec 3 as a vindicatioin of their stand. The Congress had requested the SEC to postpone the counting, arguing that it would influence voters in areas where elections were deferred to December 20 a day before polling.The Congress also sought an exemption in expenditure limits, stating that candidates had already exhausted their permitted spending and, with the election date being postponed at the last moment, they would otherwise be left with no option but to remain idle until the next polling day.The Shiv Sena (UBT), in its mouthpiece Saamna, criticised the SEC for deferring polls in several municipal councils and nagar panchayats. The Saamna editorial stated that the SEC is a joker in this game and the govt, especially the BJP, has made the SEC a joker. The SEC itself has proven that its head is not in the right place.“The CM and the two Dy CMs are making whatever promises they want to the people through campaign rallies. Even though there is no money in the govt treasury, the private coffers of the rulers are strong, and the election game is being played on it. The EC is a joker in this game. The govt, especially the BJP, has made the EC a joker. If it were not so, the EC would not have created chaos by postponing the elections in 12 districts while the voters were taking ‘Lakshmi Darshan’ to vote. This chaos and confusion is planned. The intention behind it is to benefit the BJP. CM Fadnavis has never been more critical of the SEC. The drama was well staged, but the third issue failed. The commission also got involved in the game of Lakshmi Darshan. That’s all for now,” the editorial stated.“The elections to the Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats in the state were just a few hours away, but the SEC postponed the elections in 12 districts. The SEC has no right to postpone elections in such a hasty manner. It is surprising that CM Fadnavis attacked the SEC for working in a wrong manner. Voting for the elections to 246 Municipal Councils and 42 Nagar Panchayats was to be held on December 2, and the counting of votes on December 3. Now, citing the court’s reasons, voting in 12 districts will be held on December 20, and the results will be announced on December 21. This is a deliberate mess created by the SEC. The CM has torn the clothes of the SEC about this mess, but can the SEC, which is the cat under the CM’s plate, postpone the elections without the CM’s permission?” the editorial asked. Congress spokesperson said, “The Election Commission wrongly interpreted the court order, and cancelling the election just a day before voting is something that has happened for the first time in the state in recent years. The commission created this mess even though no such direction was given by the court. Now that the court has deferred the counting, the Election Commission must clarify what will happen to the expenses already incurred by the candidates—whether these will be counted, exempted, or if the spending limit will be increased.“Jayakumar Rawal, BJP minister from Dhule said the Election Commission should have managed matters in a planned and transparent manner. “Despite these challenges people continue to vote but the current situation has understandably created an atmosphere of discontent.”Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Sushama Andhare said the SEC has been fumbling and in a mess right from the day the local body polls were announced. “They postponed the elections on the last day. The SEC is in a complete mess, it is affecting voters, political parties and candidates. Candidates prepared and took effort and now polls were postponed in 24 local bodies. On top of this the SEC has postponed the results of the other local body polls to Dec 21 also. This is insane,” Andhare said.“The SEC will have to take care of the EVMs for 18 days. This will put strain on the police and local administration. This will vitiate the atmosphere at the district levels. If there is any law and order situation, then who will be held responsible? What is happening with the SEC, we are all wondering,” Andhare said.Dy CM Eknath Shinde said once the election is announced and the election process begins, it is never stopped. “But this time, elections have been postponed. I will check what has happened. Usually such a thing never happens but this time it is unfortunate that elections have been postponed after being announced,” Shinde said.
