Residents of several villages near Malegaon in Nashik district have successfully pressured local election authorities to correct a major inconvenience that would have forced them to travel long distances to cast their votes. The issue, which sparked threats of agitation, has now been rectified following swift action by the Malegaon Municipal Corporation.
Villagers' Protest Forces Rethink on Polling Booth Allocation
The problem affected voters in the villages of Sayane, Daregaon, and Devi-cha-Mala in the areas surrounding Malegaon. According to the initial plan prepared by authorities, one polling booth in each of these villages was attached to neighbouring villages. This meant that instead of voting in their own villages, residents would have been required to travel to a different location to exercise their franchise.
"This is funny. The election authorities in charge have to visit the voters and understand the allotment of the polling booths, then finalise it, considering people should not be forced to travel more than 2 km from their homes to cast their vote," claimed Sanjay Ushir, a resident of Sayane village. His sentiment was echoed by many in the community who found the initial arrangement illogical and burdensome.
Long Travel Distances and Irrelevant Jurisdictions
The core of the residents' complaint was the impractical distance they were expected to cover. Ranjabai Jadhav, another voter, pointed out the absurdity of the situation. "According to the earlier plan, voters would have had to travel about 4-6 km to cast their vote. Why were the names of about 800 voters shifted to some other location that does not deal with the issues they face in their areas?" she questioned.
This relocation was not just about distance; it also meant voters would be part of a polling station that dealt with the civic and administrative issues of a different village, effectively diluting their connection to the electoral process relevant to their own locality.
Swift Rectification by Election Authorities
Faced with the growing discontent and threat of protest, the Malegaon corporation authorities took corrective measures. They realigned the voters to their respective villages, ensuring no one would have to travel beyond the expected and reasonable distance.
Sadik Ansari, the city secretary of the Malegaon corporation, explained the process. "After the issue was raised, the election authorities studied the matter and then issued a speaking order to realign the polling booths as per the voters' demands. The communication, with the approval of the NMC commissioner, who is also the administrator and the election officer, was sent to the State Election Commission," he stated.
This action underscores the importance of community feedback in the democratic setup. The authorities' willingness to review and amend the polling booth allocation demonstrates a responsive administrative mechanism, ultimately ensuring that the fundamental right to vote is not hampered by logistical oversights.
