Mumbai: Several candidates contesting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections have raised concerns that the planned phase-wise counting of votes may delay result declarations and prevent early city-wide trends from emerging. The civic administration confirmed the counting methodology on Monday.
At a press conference held at the civic headquarters, Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Ashwini Joshi stated that counting would be conducted for two ‘prabhags’ or wards at a time. “Once that is completed, counting for the other wards would be taken up,” she said.
Criticism of the plan came from candidates across party lines. Veteran former corporator Vishakha Raut, contesting on a Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket from the Shivaji Park area in Dadar, noted her ward (number 191 under RO 19) would be among the last to be counted. “What was the need to change the system? Simultaneous counting of votes would be better, because once counting begins, there is so much enthusiasm and everyone wants to know what the results are,” Raut said.
BJP MLA and the party’s Mumbai unit president, Ameet Satam, called the decision administrative but added, “It could have been finished at one go.” Congress MLA from Malad, Aslam Shaikh, expressed stronger reservations, stating, “Phasewise counting was not needed at all. What is the reason to keep some wards at the end? For so many years they (authorities) followed a pattern. Why the need to change it now?” He added that he “smells manipulation” by the time counting for the final wards begins.
Voting is scheduled from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm on Thursday, January 15. Voters must produce a Voter Photo Identity Card (EPIC) at polling stations. In its absence, any one of 12 alternative photo identity documents approved by the State Election Commission will be accepted. These include a passport, Aadhaar card, driving licence, PAN card, photo identity cards issued by government departments and public sector undertakings, a bank or post office passbook with a photograph, a disability certificate, an MGNREGA job card, a pension document with photographs, an official identity card issued to legislators, a freedom fighter identity card, and a photo health insurance card issued by the Union labour ministry. Election authorities have urged voters to check their documents in advance.
After polling, all EVMs will be stored in two strongrooms at Vikrohli and Kandivli before being transported to 23 counting centres on the designated day. The process involves connecting the control unit with the ballot unit to tally votes. For the first time in the civic polls, 140 Printing Auxiliary Display Units (PADUs) supplied by Bharat Electronics Limited will be deployed as a backup. These PADUs will be kept with returning officers for emergency use to ensure vote counting can continue in case of technical glitches with the EVMs.
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