Maharashtra may seek deadline extension to file claims and objections under SIR amid drought, migration

Pune: State govt is considering a discussion with the election authorities about the possibility of extending the Oct 26 deadline to file claims and objections under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), as drought-related difficulties and migration could make it challenging for voters to complete the process within the stipulated period.Election officials said any extension would require a formal request from state govt to Election Commission of India (ECI). No decision to seek a further extension has been announced so far.Senior revenue officials told TOI on Wednesday that farmers and rural households grappling with water scarcity, agricultural losses and employment search may find it difficult to approach booth-level officers (BLOs), arrange supporting documents and submit applications on time. With a large number of talukas affected by drought, the state may need to assess whether voters require additional time to complete the process.“The matter will be discussed with the election authorities. Meanwhile, citizens should continue to submit their applications,” a senior official said.The SIR schedule has already undergone several revisions. The house-to-house enumeration exercise began on June 30 and was scheduled to conclude on Aug 8. The deadline was extended to Aug 17, citing operational difficulties, including heavy rain and the Ashadhi wari.The draft electoral roll, initially scheduled for publication on Aug 24, was postponed to Aug 31 and published on that date. The claims-and-objections period was originally scheduled to end on Sept 30 but was first extended to Oct 12 following a request from the state election machinery. ECI subsequently extended the deadline to Oct 26.“With these extensions already in place, and drought now declared across a large number of talukas, it is essential to consider extending the timeline further,” a revenue official said.The final electoral roll, initially scheduled for publication on Oct 27, was first rescheduled to Nov 4 and then to Nov 16. The process of issuing notices and disposing of claims and objections is scheduled to continue until Nov 10.The current deadline applies to Forms 6, 7 and 8. Form 6 is used to apply for inclusion in the electoral roll, Form 7 to raise objections to the inclusion of names or seek their deletion, and Form 8 to request corrections or changes, including a change of residence.“An extension could give eligible voters more time to register, correct their details or raise objections, while allowing election officials to process pending applications. However, the decision rests with the ECI, and state govt would have to take up the matter formally with the commission,” another official said.Around 17.73 lakh applications under Forms 6, 7 and 8 have been received and are being processed. Form 6 accounts for the largest share, followed by Form 8 and Form 7.