Konkan Region Ramps Up Preparations For 2025 Local Body Elections

State Election Commission Reviews Readiness; Focus On Transparency, Security And Voter Awareness

The Konkan Division is accelerating preparations for the upcoming district council, municipal council, and municipal corporation general elections scheduled later this year. A comprehensive review meeting was held today at Konkan Bhavan, chaired by State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, with senior officials from all concerned districts and municipal bodies in attendance.

The meeting, conducted in two sessions, examined every stage of the pre-election process — from updating electoral rolls to arranging polling stations, manpower deployment, security coordination, and voter awareness campaigns. Waghmare emphasized that election readiness must be executed with meticulous planning, free from disruptions, technical glitches, or manpower shortages.

Konkan’s Electoral Landscape
The division covers Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, comprising 75 assembly constituencies, 6,530 revenue villages, and a population of 2.86 crore. Five districts host 45 Panchayat Samitis and 27 municipal councils, while the region also has nine municipal corporations, including Brihanmumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai.

Key Directives Issued

• Polling Centre Facilities: All centres must be safe, easily accessible, and equipped with drinking water, electricity, ramps, toilets, and adequate lighting. Special provisions for senior citizens and differently abled voters were stressed. Sensitive locations will have CCTV monitoring, webcasting, and central security forces.
• Manpower & Training: Deployment of staff to be completed on time, with special EVM handling demonstrations for officers and security personnel.
• Security Measures: Identification of sensitive areas, enhanced police deployment, and coordination between local, state reserve, and central security forces.
• EVM Availability: Accurate demand forecasting and secure storage arrangements for voting machines.
• Voter Awareness Drive: Special focus on rural outreach via rallies, cultural events, school participation, posters, banners, social media, and digital tools, aiming to boost participation among women, youth, and first-time voters.

Waghmare called on officials to maintain complete impartiality and transparency, ensuring that public trust in the electoral process remains intact. He urged citizens to vote in large numbers to strengthen democracy.

With this meeting, election preparedness in the Konkan Division is expected to gain significant momentum, ensuring both smooth administration and enhanced voter engagement.