Maharashtra awaits Centre's green signal for an open ballot

Mumbai, Nov 30 (ANI): The Maharashtra Government is awaiting the Centre's nod for its proposal to amend the Representation of the People Act to ensure an open ballot system for the Legislative Council elections.

Accroding to a Maharashtra Government official, an amendment to the Act would facilitate an open ballot for electing around 30 of the 78 seats in the council

Maharashtra is one of the six states in the country, having a Legislative Council.

Earlier in 2007, the Maharashtra Assembly approved the proposal for doing away with the secret ballot in Council polls.

Political scientists feel that doing away with the secret ballot and introducing the open ballot system would result in a political party having control over its MLAs as they would have to show a ballot to the Whip or representative. (ANI)