India, Dec. 28 -- With elections to all 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra being held simultaneously, civic bodies are facing a severe shortage of staff for election-related duties.

While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has managed the situation due to its large workforce, smaller municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which rely heavily on contractual staff, have sought assistance from district collectorates in Palghar, Thane and Raigad.

In Palghar district, the collectorate has diverted its staff to support municipal corporations facing shortages. Officials said employees have been reassigned to election duties in the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar and Bhiwandi municipal corporations. A senior ...