Maharashtra Minister Faces Voting Issues Due to Voter List Discrepancies

In a surprising turn of events, Maharashtra's Forest Minister Ganesh Naik was unable to vote in the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections due to his name missing from the voter list. Although he eventually managed to cast his vote, he faced significant challenges in locating his polling station. Naik's experience raises serious questions about the reliability of the voter registration process, especially for prominent figures. He criticized the State Election Commission for the oversight and highlighted the potential implications for ordinary voters. This incident sheds light on the broader issues surrounding electoral processes in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 15, 2026, 12:21 IST

Voting Challenges for Maharashtra's Forest Minister

Ganesh Naik, a senior leader from the BJP and Maharashtra's Forest Minister, revealed that he was unable to cast his vote in the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) elections due to his name missing from the voter list. Despite this setback, he later managed to vote, although he encountered difficulties reaching the polling station.

Earlier in the day, Naik expressed his frustration, attributing the issue to the Election Commission. However, he later clarified that he struggled to locate his designated polling center.

Naik shared images on his official Facebook account showing him casting his vote. Speaking to the media on Thursday, he explained that he has consistently voted at Navi Mumbai School No. 94 with his family for many years, but this time he was informed that voting would take place at St. Mary High School. Upon arrival, he was unable to find Room No. 9 and discovered that his name was not on the voter list, preventing him from voting.

The minister mentioned that he plans to return to St. Mary High School. He also pointed out that while his family members reside in the same building in Navi Mumbai, their names are registered at three different polling stations. Naik raised concerns about accountability for this oversight, asserting that the State Election Commission should be held responsible. He remarked, "If a minister like me can be missing from the voter list, one can only imagine what is happening to the average voter."