Fool proof security arrangements have been made for all 34 Urban local Bodies going for polls on Monday in Jharkhand with dispatch of polling parties to their respective polling booths and deployment of security forces on them on Sunday. A total of 22, 12, 137 voters will cast their votes on Monday, out of which 10, 39, 496 are women.
Out of a total of 38 Urban local Bodies going to the polls on Monday, there will be regular polls on 34, while by-polls will be conducted for rest of the 4 local bodies. Regular polls will be conducted in 5 Municipal Corporations, 16 Municipal Councils and 13 Municipal Panchayats.
By-Polls are being conducted in Jhumri Tilayya, Deoghar, Dhanbad and Bishrampur. Poll process in the State will be completed by April 21.
Officials in State Election Commission informed that a total of 278 candidates have been trying their luck for 34 seats of Mayor and chairman while 320 candidates are aspiring for the post of Deputy Mayor and Vice chairman. There are 122 candidates for Mayoral and Presidential posts and 23 candidates for Deputy Mayor and Vice President.
"Fate of a total of 3961 candidates for the post of 724 ward councilors will be decided on Monday while 25 ward councilors have already been elected unopposed," said an Official in the State Election Commission. Out of 3961 candidates, 1921 are women, he added.
In a bid to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling, adequate security arrangements have been done all over the State for which over 12,000 additional forces have been provided to different districts with a maximum of 4000 police personnel to Ranchi.
The State Election Commission has identified as 1065 hyper sensitive and 981 sensitive booths in different districts all over the state and has directed the district administrations to make adequate security arrangements for them.
Since, local Body Elections is being conducted the first time on party lines, State Election Commissioner NN Pandey said that the commission expects better voter turnout this year.
"We are fully prepared as all arrangements have been completed dispatching the poll parties and deployment of security forces. As the local Body Elections are being conducted for the first time on party-lines, we expect a better voter turn-out this year," said Pandey. He also appealed people to actively take part in the poll process so that better candidates get elected making governments stronger at the local level and ultimately bringing development to the Nation.
Pandey also directed the Poll Observers to keep a close eye on polling in their areas and see to it that moral code of conduct does not get violated.