Shiv Sena (UBT) lodges complaint about poor facilities, slow voting in Mumbai

Mumbai: A delegation of Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders headed by Mumbai South Central Candidate and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Desai on Wednesday met Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in connection with a poor arrangement of basic facilities on the day of polling at polling booths across Mumbai. The delegation submitted a memorandum to him stating that there was no arrangement of drinking water, electricity and ventilation resulting in hardship to the voters. They also raised the issue of the slow pace of voting with the CEO.

The voting was held for six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai in the fifth phase of election on Monday. Shiv Sena (UBT) has raised concerns over the “slow pace of voting process in Mumbai”. Uddhav Thackeray has alleged that the election officials delayed the voting process at many polling centres on the instruction of the BJP-led government in Maharashtra.

After meeting with the Maharashtra CEO, Desai told the reporters that the ECI has been calling the election “the festival of democracy” in the country but they did not make proper arrangements for it. “The ECI should not call it the festival of democracy as they could not even provide basic amenities to the electorate,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said.

Desai also alleged that interference had also been made in the election process at some places. He said that the officials, who were roped into the election duty, were not provided proper lodging and boarding.

Raising the issue of slow pace of voting, Desai said that the light was dim at the polling booths, the voters were forced to search the symbols and names of the candidates. “Despite provision of alternative documents including aadhaar cards and driving licenses, the electorates were not allowed to cast their votes owing to the absence of voter IDs. We have also received complaints that some polling staff was telling the electorate for whom to cast their votes,” he alleged.

Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S. Chockalingam said that he has patiently listened to the Shiv Sena (UBT) delegation’s grievances. “I have assured the delegation that the ECI will look into their concern appropriately,” Mr. Chokalingam said.