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Gujarat first state to make voting must in local body elections

GANDHINAGAR: Barely a week after passing the bill to make voting compulsory in civic body polls, the Gujarat government has developed cold feet over making it a law. But the second key provision of the bill - 50% reservation for women in local bodies - will made effective immediately.Anticipating wider opposition from parties, the Election Commission and constitutional experts, the state government has decided not to notify the bill lest there are legal implications. Local elections are scheduled for mid-2015.Sources confirmed to TOI that the government will now review all possibilities before notifying the bill. "There is a possibility of litigation on the compulsory voting provision. Moreover, making voting a must may not go down well with people. Considering these aspects, the government has decided to hold the notification," the official said.Besides litigation, the execution of compulsory voting is a practical challenge as the state doesn't have a separate machinery to enforce it."Officials appointed for elections are deputed for a limited period. This will not work if the election work extends beyond the polling day and counting. In municipal corporations like Ahmedabad, even if 20% voters don't vote, the numbers would run in several lakhs. To scrutinize their claims and punish them will be huge challenge. Top legal experts and bureaucrats have advised not go ahead in haste," another senior official said.The women's reservation, however, will be enforced in all local bodies. A separate notification by state urban development and panchayat department will be issued shortly, the official said.