Pawar's 'double vote' remark: PIL filed seeking same day polls in Satara and Mumbai

Social activist Pravin Wategaonkar today filed a PIL in the High Court against the NCP chief's remark and sought for elections to be held in Satara on the same day as elections in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

Elections in Satara are scheduled on April 17 and in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai on April 24.

Wategaonkar mentioned the petition before a division bench of Justices A S Oka and Amjad Sayed which has posted it for hearing tomorrow.

"Last time (in 2009), the polling in Satara and Mumbai was on the same day and people went to their hometowns. But this time, polling in Satara is on April 17 and here on April 24," Pawar had said, addressing a gathering of "mathadi" workers (head loaders) who hail from that district in western Maharashtra.

Pawar, who had received flak for the comment, had later said the remark was made in "a lighter vein and had a tinge of satire to it".

Meanwhile, a social worker has filed a criminal case against Pawar in a Magistrate's court at Mazgaon for making such a statement.

The complaint, expected to come up for hearing on April 15, alleged that Pawar had committed offences under IPC and other Acts by asking people to vote twice which is not allowed under the Constitution and the laws of the country.

Pawar has allegedly attempted to corrupt the minds of the people and destroy the integrity and fairness of the election process by making such statements and encouraging people to perform illegal acts, the complaint said.