MUMBAI: For the first time in the history of BMC general elections, candidates were asked to do more than just file their nomination forms and affidavits. All 2,516 aspirants who submitted nomination papers were required to write an essay – the instructions were to keep it between 100 and 500 words – spelling out how they planned to develop their local areas if elected.“The provision was introduced in 2018 and has since been used in bypolls, but never before in a general civic election of this scale,” said State Election Commission secretary Suresh Kakani.Officials said there were speaking orders issued by returning officers to reject nomination forms during scrutiny if an aspirant did not fill the essay column.The move left candidates sharply divided. While some welcomed the requirement as a chance to articulate their agenda, others dismissed it as unnecessary, even impractical. “As a former corporator, I already have a clear roadmap and several pending work I want to complete once I am elected,” BJP candidate Vinod Mishra from Malad (E) said, adding he had no trouble putting his plans on paper. Others were far less impressed. Former Congress corporator Sheetal Mhatre, who lost the 2017 election and is back in the fray, said, “Candidates anyway distribute pamphlets or booklets house-to-house, detailing their work and promises. I don’t see the point of writing another essay.” Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh, a former corporator, who has family members contesting the polls, said the real scrutiny happened elsewhere. “Today, housing societies and local groups are grilling candidates on multiple issues. An essay in the nomination form doesn’t add much.”