Maharashtra Voters to Receive Up to 20% Discounts at Select Shops and Multiplexes on Election Day

Mumbai, 9th November 2024: On the day of the Maharashtra assembly elections, voters will be eligible for discounts of up to 20% at select shops, restaurants, and multiplexes in Mumbai by showing their inked finger, officials from the Election Commission announced on Friday. The elections are scheduled for November 20.

This initiative, designed to encourage voter participation, comes after consultations with associations of traders, multiplex owners, and restaurant operators, according to an official statement.

The Election Commission launched the campaign “Utsav Nivadnukicha, Abhiman Maharashtracha” (Festival of Elections, Maharashtra’s Pride), aimed at raising voter awareness and boosting turnout. The event, held at the Gateway of India, saw the participation of Election Commission officials, Mumbai Police, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and celebrities such as actors Varsha Usgaonkar and Mohan Joshi, director Rohit Shetty, and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane.

India Post also released a special cancellation stamp at the event, which will remain in operation until November 20.

Farogh Mukadam, the nodal election officer for Mumbai, credited Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who is also the district election officer for the city, with spearheading the discount initiative. Gagrani had convened a meeting on October 31 with representatives from several trade bodies, including the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association, Multiplexes Association of India, and the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association.

Multiplex chains such as PVR Inox, Cinepolis, Mirage, Sterling, Mukta, MovieMax, and Movie Time have agreed to offer a 20% discount to voters between November 20 and 22. Additionally, the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) will provide food discounts ranging from 10 to 20% to voters on November 20 and 21, applicable upon presenting the inked finger. Online bookings or purchases will not be eligible for these discounts.

The Maharashtra Retail Association and Reliance Retail outlets will also offer discounts of 10 to 15% on November 20, further incentivizing voter participation. Similar discount campaigns were seen during the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.