The Model Code of Conduct has been imposed in the State with the announcement for local body polls that would be held in two phases, on November 28 and December 2, State Election Commissioner R Parasuram said here on Sunday.
“The first phase is scheduled on November 28 and the next on December 2, submission of nomination papers will commence on Wednesday and the last date is November 12. Scrutiny is slated for November 13. The final date for withdrawal of names is November 15,” the State Election Commissioner said.
The first phase would comprise 136 bodies — ten municipal corporations, 26 councils and 100 town panchayats. Phase two would witness polling for 144 bodies — one corporation, 38 councils and 105 town panchayats.
Elections to corporations in the State Capital, Jabalpur and Chhindwara and the municipal council in Sarangpur would be conducted after verdicts in court cases. The polls in the municipal corporations of Maihar and Vidisha and a municipal council in Vankhedi are proposed in the near future.
The number of voters has increased by 4.14 per cent compared to the 2009 elections. Polls would be conducted in the corporations including Indore, Gwalior, Sagar, Burhanpur, Satna, Rewa, Singrauli, Katni, Dewas, Khandwa and Ratlam.
The Commission is going to introduce electronic voting machines and voters’ list having photographs for the first time and the list would be made available online.
“In order to organise a hassle-free election, the Commission held two rounds of meetings with Divisional Commissioners and Collectors. Besides, meetings were conducted with registered political parties on September 16 and two meetings with the Chief Secretary and the Directo-General of Police on September 9 and 16, respectively,” Parasuram said.
Information technology would be utilised extensively for the first time. Observers have been deployed in each district to check the voters’ list.
A total of 11,749 polling booths will be set up. The total number of electorates are 90,00,573, which include 47,27,473 men, 42,72,682 women and 418 others.
The State Election Commissioner said that in the November 2009 local body election, 79.75 per cent electorates exercised their franchise, while the poll percentage is anticipated to rise this time.