With helplines, websites, city set for civic elections

On an average, Mumbaiites will have about 10 candidates to choose from in each ward when they go to vote in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on February 16.

On an average, Mumbaiites will have about 10 candidates to choose from in each ward when they go to vote in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on February 16.

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As many as 2,232 candidates are in the fray for 227 electoral wards, municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar revealed on Tuesday at a media briefing.

This includes candidates from political parties as well as independents.

The BMC has put in place an elaborate machinery to ensure that the elections are conducted smoothly, Kumar said.

It will set up 8,326 polling booths for 1,02,79,377 voters. It has also set up helpline numbers and websites to help voters check their names in the voters’ lists.

“Anything from a driving licence to a PAN card can be used as identity proof for voting,” said Kumar.

In cases where polling booths are located on the first floor of buildings that don’t have a lift, palanquins would be arranged to carry senior citizens and disabled voters, said the commissioner.

The civic corporation has received 70 complaints of violation of code of conduct during the campaign period.

The inquiry into the complaints was completed in 55 complaints and first information reports were filed in 20 cases, he informed.

The remaining 15 complaints are still being probed, said Kumar.