Latest news with #SureshKakani
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Women candidates can use both maiden and married names on EVMs: Maharashtra SEC
1 2 Pune: The State Election Commission (SEC) has allowed women candidates to display both their pre-marriage (maiden) and post-marriage names on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), provided they formally request it and meet the eligibility criteria, senior officials told TOI over the weekend. The directive, issued ahead of the upcoming local body elections in the state, 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. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "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 are included," the former corporator told TOI. The state 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.
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Women candidates can use both maiden and married names on EVMs, says Maharashtra Election Commission
Pune: The State Election Commission (SEC) has allowed women candidates to display both their pre-marriage (maiden) and post-marriage names on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), provided they formally request it and meet the eligibility criteria, senior officials told TOI over the weekend. 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. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Emergency Generators in Guro-dong: (Prices May Surprise You) Emergency Generator | Search Ads Search Now Undo "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.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Maharashtra State Election Commission tells parties they must contest at least five seats in civic polls to retain registration
Mumbai: A fortnight ago, the State Election Commission quietly promulgated an order to make it mandatory for registered political parties to contest at least five seats in the upcoming civic polls. Failure to do so will automatically deregister a party. The new rule will help the SEC halt the mushrooming of political parties. The SEC order has been signed by SEC secretary Suresh Kakani. "We have issued such an order. If it is not complied as per the provisions of the notification, the political party which does not put up at least five candidates, it will be deregistered," Kakani said. As per records of the SEC, while there are 418 registered political parties, 20 are recognised political parties. As per the rules prescribed by the SEC, recognised political parties have their own symbol, which is registered, while registered political parties secure a symbol by the lottery system during the election. As per SEC rules, it is necessary on the part of the political party registered before the date of issue of the SEC order to finally contest the election of any one local self-govt body, excluding gram panchayat, to be held in the state within a period of five years from the date of the order with a minimum of five contesting candidates. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Further, it is necessary on the part of the political party, which is registered after the date of the order, to finally contest the general election of any local self-govt bodies to be held in the state in the next five years. This condition shall be applicable permanently for each of the subsequent five years. A bureaucrat said that it was found that several politicians and activists register political parties with the SEC or Election Commission of India but never contest any election. The bureaucrat said it was found that such parties are registered for blackmailing purpose. "The decision taken by SEC will go a long way in curbing fraudulent activities in the polling process," he said. After Kakani took over the reins of the SEC, he has streamlined the entire electoral process and simplified most of the rules for political parties. "All the rules have been simplified and made hassle-free," the bureaucrat said. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
