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Opposition Condemns Maharashtra SEC’s Late Rule Allowing Door-to-Door Visits Before Jan. 15 Civic Polls

The commission cites a 2012 order permitting small, non-amplified home visits as personal contact rather than public canvassing.

Overview

  • After official public canvassing ended on Tuesday evening, the State Election Commission said candidates may visit voters’ homes in groups of up to five without microphones.
  • Raj Thackeray accused the poll body of aiding the ruling Mahayuti by permitting last-day door-to-door outreach, calling it a rule change on the eve of voting.
  • Sanjay Raut alleged the guidance effectively licenses BJP, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to distribute money door-to-door, an accusation not independently verified.
  • The directive applies to elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and 28 other municipal corporations scheduled for January 15.
  • Thackeray also questioned the introduction of Printing Auxiliary Display Unit devices, while the BMC commissioner said PADU units are backup tools to be used only during EVM glitches.