The Maharashtra Election Commission has decided to include the Aadhaar card as an identity proof for the local bodies elections in the state. "The Aadhaar card has been included among the 16 proofs for identification for the local bodies elections," an official release issued in Mumbai said.

As per the new decision, if the identity of the voter cannot be made through the election card or if he fails to produce the card then out of 17 proofs listed by the EC, any one proof would have to be produced along with the Aadhaar card.

Passport, driving license, pan card, identity card issued by the State or Central government or those by the local bodies to their employees, pass books issued by nationalised banks are among the 17 proofs of identification recognised by the EC.

Meanwhile, the state government has said that driving licences issued by RTOs would henceforth not be accepted as proof of residence for any purpose.