Mumbai: Given the lower voter turnout in Mumbai in the previous elections, the BMC has undertaken several initiatives to boost voter participation in the November 20 state polls.

Some of the key efforts include the rationalisation of polling stations (ensuring that they are at convenient distance), establishment of voting facilities within housing societies and making essential facilities available at polling stations.

BMC Chief Bhushan Gagrani Reviews Election Arrangements

BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani, who is also the district election officer, reviewed the election arrangements on Friday. Steps have been taken to address past issues like distant polling stations and long queues. As a result, polling stations have been rationalised for better convenience. Their number has increased from 2,509 in the previous Lok Sabha elections to 2,538 in Mumbai.

Similarly, now there are 7,574 voting booths in the suburbs as compared to 7,384 in general polls. Other initiatives include ‘Know Your Polling Station’ campaign, transportation facility for Person with Disability voters.

“Awareness campaigns are being amplified through media, street plays, celebrity outreach and activities like rap songs and flash mobs,” said a civic official. Polling stations have been rationalised to accommodate 1,200 to 1,300 voters each, with increased stations in high-rise buildings.

Congress MP and leader Rahul Gandhi made a major election promise on Friday, vowing to pay farmers Rs 7000 per quintal for their soyabean crops should his party come to power. He also pledged that the difference between the minimum support price (MSP) and the Rs 7,000 rate would be provided as a bonus. Additionally, Gandhi announced plans to form a committee to determine a fair price for onion and set an MSE for cotton.

In a tweet, Gandhi criticised the BJP’s record on MSP for soybean, stating: “For the last three elections; the BIP has been promising Rs 6,000 MSP for soybean, yet farmers are still forced to sell their hard-earned crop for just Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per quintal,” promising, “Maha Vikas Aghadi will ensure justice, fair prices, and a fair return for farmers’ hard work.” This promise is significant in light of the ongoing demand from farmers for better MSP for soyabean, cotton, and onions.

BJP’s Pledge

The BJP has also pledged Rs 6.000 per quintal for soybean in its manifesto and proposed the establishment of a dedicated supply chain system to boost soyabean production, processing and MSP. At a recent rally in Vidarbha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had echoed the BIPs commitment, stating, “The Mahayuti government has promised to give Rs 6,000 per quintal for soyabean.”

Rahul Gandhi’s announcement also comes as part of Congress’s broader strategy to appeal to voters with significant promises. For instance, the party has also vowed to provide Rs 3,000 a month to women under the Mahalaxmi Yojana. In contrast, the BJP—led Mahayuti alliance has pledged to raise the amount provided under the Ladki Bahin Scheme from the current Rs 1,500 to Rs2,100. In response, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde addressed a rally in Nanded, defending his government’s support for farmers.

“Our government has provided Rs 15,000 crore in assistance to farmers over the last two years,” Shinde said. “We are committed to helping soyabean and cotton farmers and have decided to waive farm loans. We will also expand soyabean procurement centres in the state and implement the ‘Bhavantar’ scheme to compensate farmers for losses after MSP is paid.” ‘With these announcements, both the Congress and BJP are seeking to strengthen their positions ahead of the upcoming elections by appealing to the state’s crucial farming community.

Taking cognizance of the allegation that former state minister and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader Nawab Malik seems fit and healthy, ashes freely roaming around and campaigning for the assembly election, the Bombay High Court will decide on his bail plea on merit, Justice Manish Pitale said he will decide on the main bail plea while hearing a petition filed by one Samson Pathare, seeking the cancellation of Malik’’s medical bail.

Pathares plea contended that Malik had neither undergone any surgery nor hospitalisation. “He has prima facie misled the court and is misusing the liberty granted to him” the plea added.

Malik was arrested on February 22, 2022, by the Enforcer Plea in HC says NCP leader, out on medical bail, seems ‘fit & healthy’ ment Directorate (ED), in an alleged money laundering case related to underworld fugitive Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

He was granted interim medical bail by the Supreme Court in August 2023 to undergo treatment for his failing kidneys and needing ‘hospitalisation and continuous treatment.

He is currently competing in the assembly election from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency. Pathare’s advocate, Chandrakant Mishra, argued that, apart from misleading the court about his medical condition, Malik has violated the conditions imposed on him while being granted bail.

He has stayed outside the jurisdiction of the PMLA court for more than four days. Mishra pointed out that Malik has been giving statements to the media, holding election rallies, and “roaming the whole of Maharashtra.” After going through the order dated August 5, 2023, by which Malik was granted bail, Justice Pitale remarked that one of the conditions was that if he went outside the jurisdiction of the PMLA court for four days, he would have to inform the trial court about the itinerary.

And if the stay was going to be for more than four days, he would have to obtain prior permission. Malik’s advocate, Taraq Sayed, asserted that the NCP leader had not stayed outside the PMLA court’s jurisdiction for more than four days. Remarking that it was a serious allegation, the court questioned Mishra about the evidence to support his claim.

“It’s a serious violation that he is remaining outside PMLA court jurisdiction for more than four days. What is the material filed to support allegations?” asked Justice Pitale. Mishra responded by saying he would submit videos and photographs to prove that Malik had violated bail conditions. Justice Pitale noted there was no urgency to hear the plea seeking the cancellation of Malik’s bail, but said, he would decide the NCP leader’s bail plea on merit, instead.

The court, in its order, noted that the application seeking cancellation of Malik’s bail, “falls short of supporting allegations” by Pathare. The court has granted liberty to Pathare to place on record, in two weeks, material/ documents to support his allegation of the violations of bail conditions by Malik. “Since the allegation is that the interim bail was granted on medical condition and after order, said respondent (Malik) is freely roaming around, indicating that he is fit and healthy, it will be appropriate that the main bail application is listed for hearing at the earliest,” Justice Pitale noted. HC has kept Pathare’s plea for hearing along with Malik’s main bail plea on December 9