More than 12 lakh sugarcane cutters from Marathwada, north Maharashtra, and Vidarbha could miss their opportunity to vote in the upcoming state assembly elections on November 20.
With the cane crushing season set to commence on November 15, lakhs of cutters from various districts have already migrated to the sugarcane belts in western Maharashtra and many other states, according to the Maharashtra Sugarcane Cutters and Transport Association.
The association has approached the Aurangabad High Court Bench, seeking directions to the Election Commission to ensure that this large group of voters is not deprived of their right to exercise their franchise.
However, the West Indian Sugar Mills Association, claimed that proper arrangements would be made to send the workers to their hometowns to get their fingers inked on November 20.
In their petition, Jeevan Rathod, president of the Maharashtra Sugarcane Cutters and Transport Association, said that 12-15 lakh cutters from Marathwada, north