The headquarters of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) turned into a scene of extraordinary hustle on Wednesday, as a massive crowd of civic poll aspirants descended upon its record section. The sudden surge was triggered by the impending closure of the office on December 25 and December 28 for election-related work, leaving candidates with limited working days to complete crucial paperwork.
A Corridor Packed with Aspirants
From early morning, a steady stream of individuals thronged the second-floor record section, all seeking the same essential document: a true copy of the voter list. This document, issued for a nominal fee of Rs 10, is mandatory for filing nominations as it carries the applicant's EPIC number, prabhag number, and highlights the candidate's name clearly. The crowd swelled so significantly that the NMC had to deploy two police personnel to manage queues and prevent chaos in the narrow corridor outside the office.
"We did not anticipate such a heavy rush in a single day," admitted an official from the records department. "People tend to come at the last moment, which puts tremendous pressure on our limited staff." The distribution of nomination forms had begun on December 23 and will continue till December 30. With two holidays in between, anxiety drove many to complete the process at the earliest.
Candidates Voice Concerns Over Centralised Process
The queue was a great equaliser, with seasoned politicians and first-time contestants waiting side by side. Former deputy mayor Jaitumbi Ashfaq Patel was seen patiently standing in line. For many, the long wait was a frustrating but necessary ordeal.
"Without the voter list copy, our nomination cannot move forward," explained Congress aspirant Nilesh Khorgade, who plans to contest from prabhag 27. He voiced a common grievance: "The NMC should have provided this facility zone-wise, just like the distribution of nomination forms. That would have reduced the rush here."
An independent aspirant from south Nagpur echoed the sentiment, highlighting the inconvenience for those travelling from distant areas. "People travel all the way to Civil Lines only to stand for hours. Decentralising this service would have helped both the candidates and the officials," he said.
Single-Window System for Clearances Eases Some Pressure
In a parallel move to streamline election-related formalities, the NMC has set up a single-window system at its headquarters for issuing no-dues certificates. This certificate confirms that an aspiring candidate has no outstanding dues towards property tax, water charges, or other municipal payments. This initiative has been largely successful in reducing procedural delays.
"The single window has brought all departments to one desk," said an NMC officer. Executive engineer and in-charge of the centre, Ajay Pazare, provided specific data: "On Wednesday, the centre received 1,491 applications for no-dues certificates, of which 1,360 certificates were issued. Candidates can finish the process faster, instead of running from counter to counter."
Despite the overwhelming rush, officials assured that every applicant would receive their documents. "Everyone will get their papers. We only request people to maintain discipline and give us some time," an official stated. With the nomination window open for just a few more days, the pressure on the civic body is expected to persist. Candidates are now hoping that the race for paperwork does not become a bigger hurdle than the electoral battle itself.
