Vote freely in urban bodies election: SEC

The polling for the local bodies’ elections in 10 urban bodies is scheduled for Wednesday. The State Election Commission has made elaborated arrangements in this regard.State Election Commissioner R Parasuram has urged voters to exercise their franchise fearlessly in elections in 10 urban bodies on Wednesday.

Polling will be held on Wednesday for Ujjain and Morena municipal corporations, Vidisha, Sarangpur and Harda Nagar Palika Parishads and Dhuwara, Chakghat, Kotar, Suwasara and Bhainsdehi Nagar Parishads from 7 am to 5 pm. Polling will be held through EVMs.

Counting will be held from 9 am on August 16. By-election for President will be held at Harda and Bhainsdehi Nagar Parishads.In all, 999 polling booths have been set up in the 10 urban bodies. Number of wards is 263. Ujjain has 54 wards and 461 booths, Morena 47 wards and 240 booths, Sarangpur 18 wards and 37 polling booths, Vidisha 39 wards and 136 booths, Harda 30 wards and 50 booths and Suwasara, Dhuwara, Chakghat, Kotar and Bhainsdehi have 15 wards and as many polling booths each.

After withdrawal of nominations in urban body elections, 10 candidates have been left in fray for posts of Mayor, 40 for Chairperson and 958 for posts of corporator. For Mayor's post, 5 candidates each are in fray in Ujjain and Morena municipal corporations.

For Chairperson's posts, 5 candidates are in fray in Vidisha Nagar Palika, Sarangpur 4 and 2 in Harda. For Chairperson's posts in Nagar Parishads, 4 candidates are in fray in Dhuwara, lanji 7, Kotar 5, Chakghat 7, Suwasara 3 and Bhainsdehi 3.Mayoral candidates for Ujjain municipal corporation include Meena Jonwal of BJP, Kavita of Indian National Congress, Ramkanya of Bahujan Samaj Party and independents Bhavana Vishwapremi and Anita Hindoliya. In Morena municipal corporation, Mayoral candidates include Ashok Argal of BJP, Rajendra Prasad of Indian National Congress, Rakesh Kumar of Bahujan Samaj Party and independents Shobha Ram Valmik and Premwati.

Polling will be held through EVM. For Mayors and Chairpersons ballot papers will be of white colour and blue for corporators, yellow in Nagar Palika Parishads and pink in Nagar Palik Nigams.