Maharashtra polls: Restaurants, Multiplexes to Offer Discounts for Voters in Mumbai

Mumbai: Voters will get up to 20 per cent discounts in select shops, restaurants and multiplexes in Mumbai after showing inked finger, Election Commission officials anunced here on Friday.

Assembly elections will be held in Maharashtra on vember 20.

initiative, aimed at encouraging voting, was being undertaken after holding discussions with associations of trers, multiplex owners and restaurant owners, said an official.

poll body on Friday launched `Utsav Nivnukicha, Abhiman Maharashtracha', (Festival of Elections, Maharashtra's Pride), a voting awareness campaign which aims to increase voter turut.

event at Gateway of India was attended by officials of Election Commission, Mumbai Police and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation besides celebrities including actor Varsha Usgaonkar, Mohan Joshi, Rohit Shetty and cricketer Ajinkya Rahane.

India Post also released a special cancellation at function which will be in operation till vember 20.

Farogh Mukam, dal election officer for Mumbai, said discount initiative was brainchild of Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, district election officer for Mumbai city and Mumbai suburban district.

Gagrani conducted a meeting with representatives of Federation of Retail Trers Welfare Association, Multiplexes Association of India, Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, Association of Hotel and Restaurants, and some or tre bodies on October 31.

y agreed to offer discounts to voters to encour voting, she said.

"y often give discounts on or occasions, so we asked if y could offer similar discounts for voting. ir response was positive," Mukam said.

Multiplex chains PVR Ix, Cinepolis, Mir, Sterling, Mukta, MovieMax and Movie Time have agreed to offer 20 per cent discount to voters from vember 20 to 22 in city.

AHAR has offered 10 to 20 percent discounts to voters on food on vember 20 and 21 on showing inked finger, Mukam said.

offer is t valid for online bookings or purchases, she specified.

At function, it was also anunced that Maharashtra Retail Association and Reliance Retail outlets would offer 10 to 15 per cent discounts on vember 20.