After the implementation of mandatory education qualification and other prescribed conditions for the candidates, Haryana will witness its first municipal polls on May 22.
About a month ago, Haryana Government had passed Haryana Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2016, making it mandatory for the candidates in municipal polls to be matriculate and have a functional toilet at home while a woman and a Scheduled Caste candidate will be required to be at least 8th standard pass.
The State Election Commissioner Rajiv Sharma on Thursday announced the election schedule for 15 municipal councils and 28 municipal committees of Haryana.
Earlier, in January, the panchayat polls were held in the state with the condition of minimum education qualification for candidates. The Government had claimed that the amendments aim at strengthening the urban local bodies — the third tier of the governance — and improving the efficiency, transparency and accountability by making education as a necessary qualification for the office bearers of these bodies.
like the panchayat polls, the State Government has debarred the tainted persons from contesting the municipal polls in the State. Default of payment of electricity bill or of loans of cooperative institutions was also made as disqualification for contesting the elections of urban local bodies apart from imposing condition of a functional toilet at the place of residence of candidates.
About 15,20,456 voters would exercise their right to vote during polls and model code of conduct has now come into force with effect from Thursday in the areas of Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Municipal Committees where the poll is to be conducted., said Rajiv Sharma while addressing a press conference in Panchkula.
The elections would be held in 385 wards of 15 Municipal Councils and 436 wards of 28 Municipal Committees.
The election to these municipalities would be conducted by the use of Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs), and about 2076 EVMs of single post would be used.
As per the schedule, the polling would be held on May 22 between 7 am and 5 pm and votes would be counted after the close of poll at all polling stations, the same day. Election result would be declared immediately after the completion of counting.
The nomination papers would be presented from May 5 to 11, scrutiny of nomination papers would carried out on May 12 and last date for withdrawal of candidature would be May 13. The symbols would be allotted to the contesting candidates on May 13.
He said that out of total 1448 polling stations, 247 are sensitive and 139 hyper- sensitive. About 6300 polling personnel and 141 Duty Magistrates or supervisors will be deputed on election duty.
Referring to the expenditure limit fixed for various municipalities, Sharma said that a contesting candidate or his authorised election agent would incur `2.10 lakh in case of Municipal Corporation, Rs one lakh for Municipal Council and `75,000 for Municipal Committee elections.
While referring to the new amendment made by the Government, Sharma said that a person would also be disqualified for contesting the elections of the municipal institutions, who has not been convicted, but charges have been framed in a criminal case for an offence, punishable with imprisonment for not less than ten years; who fails to pay any arrear of any kind due to him to any Primary Agriculture Co-operative Society, District Central Co-operative Bank and District Primary Co-operative Agriculture Rural Development Bank; who fails to pay arrears of the electricity bills; who has not passed matriculation examination or who fails to submit self declaration to the effect that he has a functional toilet at his place of residence.
The Election Commission would take strict action if any candidate submits wrong information about education qualification or other mandatory conditions, he said.
He made it clear that no officer or official associated with the election work would be transferred till completion of the election process.
He added that State Election Commission will appoint Election observers in each district to ensure smooth conduct of elections.
Sharma said that videography of sensitive or hyper sensitive polling stations would be got done, if required. For making elaborate security management during election process, Home Department has been requested to deploy adequate police personnel, he added.
Following the announcement of municipal elections, the state BJP has convened a meeting on Friday to chalk out a strategy for polls while opposition Congress and INlD are also gearing up for the polls.