Pune District Prepares for Maharashtra Assembly Elections with 8,417 Polling Stations
Reported by Tikam Shekhawat
Pune, 25th October 2024: A total of 8,417 polling stations have been designated across Pune district for the upcoming assembly elections. Among these, 38 polling stations are located in remote areas where communication facilities are either limited or inactive.
To ensure seamless voting operations, Deputy Collector and District Communication Plan Coordinator, Shama Pawar, has urged telecommunication companies to provide network services to these polling stations.
The call for action came during a meeting held at the collector’s office with representatives from various telecom service providers. District Information Officer (DIO) and Coordination Officer for Public Relations and Publicity, Dr. Ravindra Thakur, was also present at the meeting.
Pawar emphasized that active communication services are crucial for the smooth execution of the polling process. She urged telecom companies to verify the availability of mobile networks at the 38 polling stations in remote areas and promptly inform the election office if coverage can be established. In cases where network connectivity is unavailable, alternative arrangements will be coordinated with election officers to ensure uninterrupted communication during the elections.
Dr. Thakur further addressed the role of telecom companies in election campaigns, stressing the importance of proper certification for all bulk communications. “Political parties, candidates, and third parties widely use various media channels for election campaigns, including bulk SMS, recorded audio messages, and internet advertisements,” he stated.
“These messages should be certified by the District Level Media Certification and Control Committee, and telecom companies must ensure that no unauthenticated bulk messages or audio content are disseminated.”
The authorities have called for cooperation from all telecom companies to support the district’s communication needs as part of the election effort.
