Women candidates can use both maiden and married names on EVMs, says Maharashtra Election Commission
The directive, issued ahead of the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra, is expected to benefit women known in public life by both names. But officials clarified that the name on the nomination form must match the name in the voters' list. Once the nomination is submitted, candidates may file an application with the returning officer requesting both names appear on the EVM.
The application must be filed before the final date of withdrawal of candidature, the SEC stated.
To support the request, candidates will need to submit a marriage certificate or a govt-issued gazette notification confirming the name change. In the absence of a gazette, one of 17 acceptable proofs — as prescribed by the SEC in a 2011 order — may be submitted.
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The recent order issued by the SEC was signed by secretary SEC Suresh Kakani.
"Earlier, there were no clear guidelines and the recent SEC order will help the women candidates decide on the same," a senior official said.
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"This move acknowledges identity transitions post-marriage while giving women the option to retain both identities during elections," another senior SEC official told TOI. However, the official added that both names will appear in full on the EVM only if space permits.
Maharashtra has reserved 50% of seats for women in municipal corporations, councils, nagar panchayats, zilla parishads and panchayat samitis.
Of these, over 1,370 seats in municipal corporations and 3,885 seats in councils and nagar panchayats have been set aside for women candidates.
Civil society groups and political observers welcomed SEC's decision. "This is a progressive step. In many Maharashtrian households, a woman's name changes completely after marriage. Allowing both names helps her preserve her identity," said a political analyst.
A former PMC corporator said it would help women who are known by their maiden names in the area, and putting both names would be an advantage for them. "Since the SEC has announced it much ahead of the actual polls, I would consider giving all the documents to ensure that both my maiden name and the name post-marriage is included," the former corporator told TOI.
Maharashtra is set for one of the biggest rounds of local body elections, covering 29 municipal corporations, 244 municipal councils, 147 nagar panchayats, 32 zilla parishads, and 336 panchayat samitis.
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