BJP asks EC to consider tax rebates or incentives to housing societies that have 100% voter turn out in South Mumbai | Mumbai News – Times of India
MUMBAI: The BJP has asked the Election Commission (EC) to give an incentive or rebate for housing societies that have 100% voter turnout and demanded that a committee should look into voter incentive or rebate for the next elections. It has also urged restaurants, salons and health clubs in South Mumbai for discounts on voting day. Former BJP Corporator, Makarand Narwekar on Thursday wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer S.Chockalingam, urging him to form a committee in consultation with the state government for giving incentives to voters. Narwekar urged the CEO to give incentives or a rebate to housing societies with 100% voting.
Narwekar said he was raising awareness to improve voter turnout in Mumbai for the upcoming Loksabha election. Earlier, he had urged housing societies to vote in large numbers and asked travel agents to waive cancellation or rescheduling charges on tickets so that people can stay back and vote on 20th May.
“I have written to the CEO urging for a committee which can look into giving incentives or rebates to housing societies. There are thousands of housing societies in the city, concentrated incentives or rebates in water bills and property tax can help in achieving 100% voting. Incentives or rebate in taxes for a financial year will enthuse voters,” Narwekar said.
Narwekar urged Chockalingam to rope in the state government and agencies like Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to consider incentives or rebate in property tax or water bills. “While the idea of punishing the voters who don’t vote is being discussed. We should give incentive or rebate to voters for 100% voting turnout this will definitely give us a positive result. In Mumbai South Lok Sabha Constituency, voter turnout in 2019 was 51.58 percent, and in 2014 it was 52.48 percent. In this election, we should aim for at least 60% voting.”
Narwekar also made an appeal to restaurants, salons and health clubs to give discounts to voters on 20th & 21st May. “Incentives or rebates from the government can take time, till then I am urging restaurant, salon and gym owners and associations to give reasonable discounts to voters in the city. This can play a significant role in increasing voter turnout in Mumbai by discouraging travel,” added Narwekar.
Political observers said that with May 20 being a Monday and the middle of summer vacations for kids, many residents have booked their vacation tickets. “Already voter turnout in South Mumbai is just around 51% which is lower compared to the state average of around 64%. This year with the fight between the two Sena’s, the BJP is finding it difficult to woo voters and get them to stay in the city on voting day,” said an observer.
Narwekar said he was raising awareness to improve voter turnout in Mumbai for the upcoming Loksabha election. Earlier, he had urged housing societies to vote in large numbers and asked travel agents to waive cancellation or rescheduling charges on tickets so that people can stay back and vote on 20th May.
“I have written to the CEO urging for a committee which can look into giving incentives or rebates to housing societies. There are thousands of housing societies in the city, concentrated incentives or rebates in water bills and property tax can help in achieving 100% voting. Incentives or rebate in taxes for a financial year will enthuse voters,” Narwekar said.
Narwekar urged Chockalingam to rope in the state government and agencies like Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to consider incentives or rebate in property tax or water bills. “While the idea of punishing the voters who don’t vote is being discussed. We should give incentive or rebate to voters for 100% voting turnout this will definitely give us a positive result. In Mumbai South Lok Sabha Constituency, voter turnout in 2019 was 51.58 percent, and in 2014 it was 52.48 percent. In this election, we should aim for at least 60% voting.”
Narwekar also made an appeal to restaurants, salons and health clubs to give discounts to voters on 20th & 21st May. “Incentives or rebates from the government can take time, till then I am urging restaurant, salon and gym owners and associations to give reasonable discounts to voters in the city. This can play a significant role in increasing voter turnout in Mumbai by discouraging travel,” added Narwekar.
Political observers said that with May 20 being a Monday and the middle of summer vacations for kids, many residents have booked their vacation tickets. “Already voter turnout in South Mumbai is just around 51% which is lower compared to the state average of around 64%. This year with the fight between the two Sena’s, the BJP is finding it difficult to woo voters and get them to stay in the city on voting day,” said an observer.
