In Pune, a relentless seventy-two-hour work marathon is currently underway behind the scenes of the municipal corporation elections. With polling and counting scheduled on consecutive days, returning officers and assistant returning officers across Maharashtra are preparing for an exceptionally demanding duty schedule. This back-to-back arrangement is forcing many officials to stay away from their homes for several days straight.
The Uninterrupted Duty Cycle
These dedicated officials are now deep into an uninterrupted duty cycle. They have already logged nearly forty-eight hours since the distribution of EVMs and polling materials. Another long day of counting awaits them on Friday, stretching their endurance to the limit.
Personal Accounts from the Frontlines
A returning officer from a city ward in Pune shared her experience. She has barely been home for the past three days and expects to remain on duty until Saturday. "If there was even a one-day gap between polling and counting, it would have helped immensely. Our request was not accepted, so we braced ourselves and worked out stricter schedules. The entire polling staff is pitching in together," she explained to reporters.
This officer is in charge of three wards. Her responsibilities include ensuring peaceful polling and conducting EVM checks at nearly four hundred polling stations. She must also oversee the sealing and transport of machines to strong rooms after voting concludes on Thursday. Finally, she will supervise the counting process starting at ten in the morning on Friday.
Sleep Deprivation and Tight Schedules
Another returning officer from Pune city revealed she has not slept soundly since the beginning of the week. Her duties will continue until Saturday. "Makar Sankranti was spent dispatching EVMs. From polling on Thursday to counting on Friday, and wrapping up procedures thereafter, it is a very tight schedule indeed," she stated.
Contrast with Previous Elections
Officials recalled that during the recent assembly elections, polling was held on November twentieth. Counting took place on November twenty-third. This gap allowed officers sufficient time to complete post-poll formalities and prepare for counting without excessive stress.
Challenges for Women Officials
Extended election duty has proven particularly challenging for women officials. Many have to stay overnight at polling stations where facilities are not always adequate. "A gap would have meant staying just one night for polling and returning after a day for counting," an official pointed out.
In contrast, officials noted that for the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, polling is scheduled for February fifth. Counting will occur two days later, on February seventh, providing a much-needed buffer.
High Morale Despite Pressure
Despite the intense pressure, several officials stressed that morale remains remarkably high. "When you are on election duty, comfort becomes secondary. The task at hand takes precedence," one official affirmed.
Another assistant returning officer from the Warje area echoed this sentiment. Officials still view the assignment as a genuine privilege. "Being part of the election process is an honour for us. This is true from before polling begins right up to the moment the ballots are safely sent for counting," she said proudly.
Requests for a Buffer Day
Senior officials involved in the municipal elections confirmed that requests for a one-day gap were formally made to the State Election Commission. Unfortunately, these requests were not accepted. "A buffer day was the usual practice in corporation elections. Given the heavy workload on returning officers handling multiple wards, we did seek a gap," explained a returning officer from the Pimpri-Chinchwad area.
In the 2017 civic polls, voting was held on February twenty-first. Counting followed on February twenty-third, demonstrating the previous norm of a one-day interval.
The Scale of the Operation
According to State Election Commission data, two hundred twenty-eight returning officers were appointed. They cover eight hundred ninety-three wards and two thousand eight hundred sixty-nine seats across twenty-nine municipal corporations.
The scale of this exercise is immense:
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has twenty-three returning officers for two hundred twenty-seven wards.
- Pune Municipal Corporation follows with fifteen returning officers for forty-one wards.
- Thane has eleven returning officers.
These numbers underline the sheer intensity and logistical challenge of the current election process in Maharashtra.
