State Election Commissioner R Parasuram apprised his Gujarat counterpart Election Commissioner Varesh Sinha about the electoral process of the State’s urban body and panchayat elections here on Saturday. Sinha said that both the States will exchange each other’s best practices. He informed that there was e-voting arrangement in Gujarat’s municipal corporations also.
Parasuram informed about use of photo-bearing electoral rolls, voter slips, multi-post EVMs, NOTA for the first time in urban body and panchayat elections. He also informed about SENSE, manual, candidates’ affidavits, no-dues certificates, paid news monitoring and appointment of observers. He informed that 371-hour training was imparted to officers and employees.
Sinha informed that Gujarat Election Commission also undertakes delimitation and reservation of urban bodies. He informed that the commission is also contemplating on mandatory polling. An office-bearer’s election is rejected on birth of third child. An office-bearer also must have a toilet. Secretary State Election Commission GP Shrivastava and other officers were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, all is set for polling for third and last phase of Panchayats general elections 2014-15. State Election Commissioner R Parasuram has said that concrete security arrangements have been made for polling. He urged voters to cast votes fearlessly. Polling will be held tomorrow from 7 am to 3 pm.
Polling will be held in 9921 Gram Panchayats of 137 development blocks in 50 districts at 28802 polling booths. Number of voters in this phase is 1.46 crore. Counting of votes for election of sarpanch and panch will be held at polling booths soon after end of polling and district and Panchayat elections at development block headquarters on February 25.