Election Commission blocks MHADA lottery

Over two lakh applicants affected as housing draw deferred till after poll code

- Staff Reporter

The State Election Commission has denied permission to conduct the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) Pune Board housing lottery during the election code of conduct period, despite earlier indications of a positive response.

As a result, the lottery of 4,186 houses is now likely to be held at the end of January or in February. Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, Chairman of the MHADA Pune Board, had requested the State Election Commission (SEC) to allow the lottery to be conducted during the code of conduct period. It was initially expected that the lottery would proceed after officials conveyed a positive response. However, the SEC has now refused permission.