The nomination for the first phase of election of urban bodies began here on Monday.
Only one nomination was filed and that too for the post of Corporator in Raipur on the first day.
As many as 10 forms for the post of Mayor and 194 forms for the post of Corporators of Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) were taken by the probable candidates and workers of different political parties on the first day, official said.
A candidate named Shaildeep filed nomination for the post of Corporator from RMC’s ward number 49.
The district administration has made proper security arrangements for the nomination process and entry into the office of returning officer has been restricted. Policemen have been deployed and barricades have been installed in the Collectorate premises.
The nomination form for the post of Mayor is being distributed from the officer of Collector. The nomination forms for the post of Corporator are being distributed from counters established according to eight zones in the premises. The nomination form for the post of Corporator of a ward is being provided from the zone under which the ward falls.
Most of the visitors observed the nomination form and later went to their respective advocates to get assistance in filling forms and completing the formalities for nomination.
Officials said that being first day , only forms were collected by the people. But the rush will start increasing from Tuesday as the candidate will start coming to submit the form.
The major political parties including BJP and Congress are yet to decide their candidates and the process will gain momentum once the candidates are declared.
The polling for the first phase will be held on December 29 and the second phase on December 31 in the urban body elections which have been delayed by about three weeks from its previous schedule.
It is worth mentioning that State Election Commission (SEC) had set December 8 and 11 as the date of polling for the urban body elections but the election process was stopped on interim orders of Chhattisgarh High Court.
The SEC has declared fresh schedule after the Supreme Court stayed the interim order of the High Court.