Rais Shaikh, the Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East, has lodged a complaint with the State Chief Electoral Officer regarding numerous flaws in the Election Commission’s ‘Special Summary Revision’ (SIR) campaign for voter lists. He pointed out that the names of lakhs of eligible voters are missing from the recently published draft list. In a letter, MLA Shaikh has demanded a two-month extension for the process of rectifying these errors.

Elaborating on the issue, MLA Shaikh stated that voters had submitted registration applications with valid documents during the SIR campaign and possess acknowledgment receipts; however, their names are not included in the recently published draft voter list. The online system indicates that lakhs of applications—ranging from new voter registrations (Form 6) to name corrections or address changes (Form 8)—are pending at the Booth Level Officer (BLO) level.

Affected voters have not received any notices, SMS alerts, or phone calls from the Election Department regarding discrepancies in the voter list or ‘no-linkage’ issues. Thousands of eligible voters are confused about whether they will be included in or excluded from the final voter list. MLA Shaikh noted that this sentiment prevails among voters in the areas of Bhiwandi, Madanpura, Mankhurd, and Govandi.
Persistent server issues on the Election Commission’s website and mobile app have made it extremely difficult for citizens to fill out new forms or check the status of their existing applications. BLOs are unwilling to work during the festive holidays. Consequently, MLA Rais Shaikh has demanded a two-month extension to the September 30 deadline for the SIR process. In his letter, he urged that the names of citizens holding SIR acknowledgment receipts be included in the final electoral roll. He also called for immediate orders to process pending applications held by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and suggested launching a campaign to accept applications via offline (physical) methods to overcome online server issues. Exercising the right to vote is a constitutional right for every eligible voter. Through this letter, MLA Rais Shaikh has directed the State’s Chief Electoral Officer and the Thane District Collector to ensure that no voter is deprived of their right to vote during the SIR process.

Mumbai, Sep 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address the inaugural session of Hindi Diwas 2026 and the sixth All India Official Language Conference in Mumbai on Monday, an official said.

Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, the event will highlight the vibrant relationship of Hindi with Maharashtra’s rich linguistic, cultural, and literary traditions, the official said in a statement.

On this occasion, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, several Members of Parliament, distinguished guests from various fields, scholars, litterateurs, educationists, and senior officials from various departments and Ministries of the Central government will also be present.

The Department of Official Language of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been organising All India Official Language Conferences every year since 2021.

This journey, which began from Varanasi, has reached Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra this year, passing through Surat, Pune, New Delhi and Gandhinagar.

During the inaugural session of the two-day programme, the ‘Rajbhasha Gaurav’ and ‘Rajbhasha Kirti’ Awards for the year 2025–26 will be presented by the Union Home Minister, the statement said.

The institutions and individuals who have undertaken outstanding work and made noteworthy contributions in the field of Official Language will be honoured with these awards, it added.

Several important books and publications will also be launched during the inaugural session and other sessions. These include a special commemorative issue of the Department of Official Language’s journal ‘Rajbhasha Bharati’, centred on the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’; ‘Bharatiya Gyan Tantra: Srot aur Swaroop’; ‘Shiv Anadi Hain, Anant Hain’; and ‘Andheron Se Ujalon Tak’, a compilation of writings by prison inmates.

A special attraction of this year’s conference will be a special discussion session centred on the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’.

Joydeep Chattopadhyay will also have a special presence at the programme. He is a fifth-generation descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author of ‘Vande Mataram’.

A special session will also be organised at the Conference on the role of Town Official Language Implementation Committees (TOLICs/NARAKAS).

NARAKAS is a strong and empowered unit that takes forward the implementation of Official Language Hindi at the grassroots level.

A special exhibition is also being organised at the conference venue, in which stalls will be put up by various institutions, organisations, banks and ministries, the statement said.

During the Ganesh Utsav in Mumbai, a vast number of devotees flock to the city, and citizens participate in the festivities in large numbers. It is essential that citizens stepping out to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesh can move about easily on foot. Therefore, advertisements should not be placed on roads or footpaths in a manner that obstructs pedestrian movement. The Municipal Corporation administration is implementing various measures under the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, which is being executed effectively on a large scale across Mumbai. This campaign is garnering enthusiastic public participation and widespread acclaim. Citizens and all other stakeholders are urged to cooperate with this initiative during the festive season. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has appealed to everyone to refrain from placing unauthorized advertisements on roads and footpaths and to strictly adhere to the regulations.
Under the directives of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, various measures are being taken to ensure the provision of excellent services and facilities across Mumbai during the Shri Ganesh Utsav. Against this backdrop, specific regulations have been formulated regarding the display of commercial advertisements during the Ganesh Utsav and Navratri festivals. Municipal Commissioner Bhide has instructed the Municipal Corporation administration and the Licensing Department to ensure compliance with these regulations and to take immediate action to remove any advertising hoardings that cause obstructions. Key Guidelines Regarding Advertisements

Ganesh Utsav and Navratri Utsav Mandals (organizing committees) must strictly refrain from displaying advertisements for gutkha, tobacco products, or other prohibited items. Care must be taken to ensure that the display of advertisements does not obstruct pedestrian movement on footpaths or traffic on the roads. Mandals may display a message such as “Heartfelt welcome to devotees” on the upper horizontal section of their traditional entrance arch. Commercial advertisements of donors may be displayed on the vertical pillars to the right and left of the entrance. Public awareness should be promoted through the display of social and civic messages. Mandals will be permitted to install digital screens (up to a maximum size of 10 ft x 10 ft) to display messages concerning public interest or health alongside commercial advertisements, provided a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) is obtained from the Traffic Department and the local police station.

Regulations Applicable Post-Immersion

The concerned Mandals are required to take the initiative to remove advertising hoardings themselves—both during the public Ganesh Utsav and Navratri Utsav festivals and on the day following the Visarjan (immersion of the idol). Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has also appealed to the Mandals to display advertisements in an organized manner while upholding the religious and social spirit of these public festivals, and to strictly adhere to the prescribed guidelines.