BMC polls: Only 9 candidates file papers at the end of Day 3

Only nine candidates, in all had submitted their nomination forms at the end of Day 3 of filing papers for elections to the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a senior civic official said here today.
Four candidates from western suburbs, three from eastern suburbs and two from the city submitted their nominations online till Sunday evening, said a senior BMC official.
As per Election Commission's fresh order, nomination forms were accepted even yesterday (Sunday).
Earlier, when the election schedule for 10 Municipal corporations, 25 Zilla Parishads and 283 Panchayat Samitis was announced on January 11, it was decided against accepting nomination forms on Sundays, which later stood corrected.

Filing of nominations for 227 electoral wards began on January 27 and will continue till February 3.
Polling for BMC will take place on February 21 and the results will be out on February 23.

From today onwards, candidates are expected to step up their efforts to file nominations, said the official, discharging the electoral duty.
However, according a political observer, since all the political parties in the city are still in the process of finalising the list of their candidates, therefore, it may take another few days for the nominations to come in.
The State Election Commission has set up an exclusive website to upload and the fill the nomination online at Panchayatelection.Maharashtra.Gov.In and has also appointed 22 returning officers (ROs) for the elections.

Explaining the guidelines of filing papers, a senior official working with election department of the BMC, said, "Firstly, applicants will have to register on the site, login and fill the details in the prescribed format which will generate the registration number. Then candidates will have to print the applications and submit it to the returning officer along with supporting documents in respective wards. The exercise will ensure that errors are minimized and rejection of nomination forms is reduced."
"Our staff have given basic instructions to the party workers who will later on assist their candidates to fill the form. Besides, we have also set up help desk at respective ward offices," the official said adding a helpline number 022-22022909 has also been set up to assist the candidates.