The Maharashtra government has declared complete shutdown of all shops and shopping malls in the states on October 13 in order to ensure a high turnout of voters.
On October 13, the state will witness an unprecedented closure of shops, malls, multiplexes, offices, commercial establishments, residential hotels, restaurants, theatres and industrial establishments so that voters can go and exercise their franchise.
Essential services like police, fire brigade, press and continuous process industries are exempted.
In this year's Lok Sabha polls 41.24 pc Mumbaikars voted compared to 50 pc in the assembly polls five years ago.
Acting on the advice of the Election Commission, state labour commissioner Arvind Kumar issued orders to all establishments to give their employees a holiday on October 13. The labour commissioner office has formed 28 special squads to keep an eye on offices, and employers failing to comply with the order could face arrest under Representation of People Act, 1951.
State chief election officer Debashish Chakrabarty said there was always a provision in law to give employees a paid holiday on polling day but it was never enforced strictly.
