Mumbai's Andheri W jr college students roped in for election duty

MUMBAI: Ahead of the BMC general elections scheduled for Jan 15, 2026, the election department has directed junior colleges in Andheri West to provide student volunteers at polling stations to assist voters.As per an official order, junior college students will be deployed as volunteers at polling centres across Juhu, Oshiwara, Lokhandwala and Versova. Priority will be given to students from NCC and Scout and Guide units, though the order states that a maximum number of students will need to be engaged to ensure adequate voter facilitation.The order states that volunteers will assist senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other voters who may require help. The move has drawn objections from the Maharashtra Progressive Teachers' Union, which said involving students amounted to "offloading the entire burden of election management onto the education system".When contacted on whether a similar arrangement could be extended to other parts of the city during polls, officials from the education department said they were not aware of any such directive being issued beyond K-West ward.