Mumbai: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday expressed concern over the “apathy” of urban and young voters in Maharashtra, and said efforts are being made to ensure maximum polling in the coming assembly elections in the state.

Speaking at a press conference here after reviewing poll preparedness, CEC Kumar informed that strict instructions have been given to the administration that officers who have completed three years in their posting should be transferred immediately.

The CEC, who wrapped up the poll body’s two-day visit to the state, also warned that fake news during the polls will be dealt with sternly.

Besides disclosing in their affidavits, candidates have to prominently declare criminal cases they are facing, if any, thrice in newspapers in print as well on television, he said, adding that political parties too have to publish within three days of nomination why a candidate with criminal background was selected.

“You (political parties) have to tell the public whether you did not get any (other) candidate and why was it necessary to select them (those with criminal background),” he said.

The CEC informed that webcasting of proceedings will be done at a minimum of 50 percent of booths — 100 per cent in urban areas and at more than 50 per cent booths in rural areas.

“We are committed to provide free, fair, inducement-free, accessible and inclusive elections at every stage. We will make all efforts sincerely to provide absolutely level-playing field,” he said.

Talking about the voter apathy witnessed in urban areas of the state, the CEC pointed out that Colaba in south Mumbai (40 per cent voting), Pune Cantonment (43 per cent), Mumbadevi and Kurla in Mumbai (44 per cent) and Kalyan near Mumbai (41 per cent) were the areas which recorded among the lowest voter turnout in the Lok Sabha polls this year.

“Urban apathy and youth apathy is a big issue in certain parts of Maharashtra,” Kumar said, adding that political parties made a demand that polling should be held in the middle of a week so that people do not club polling days with the weekend and treat it as an extended holiday.

“It (urban apathy) does not behove well,” he further said, and cited, in comparison, voting figures of Doda (72 per cent), Riyasi (74), Poonch (74) in Jammu and Kashmir, and Left-Wing Extremist-affected areas like Bastar (68 per cent) and Gadchiroli (73 per cent).

“If Gadchiroli (in eastern Maharashtra) can poll 73 per cent, then polling in Colaba, Kalyan and Pune can also rise,” the CEC added.

KR Desk