Chhattisgarh's Chief Electoral Officer Reena Baba Saheb Kangale on Thursday urged political parties to strictly follow all protocols for Covid-19 to ensure prevention and further spread of the pandemic during the Marwahi by-election process.
Meeting leaders of political parties at her office, Kangale also told the political parties not to violate the election model code of conduct.
To keep senior citizens safe, the differently abled and those involved in emergency services, mainly Covid-19 services, suspected positive patients, and voters in home/quarantine centres, postal ballots are being provided, she said.
The CEO asked the parties to submit the election related expenses within the specified time-limit.
She said notification for the by-election will be issued on October 9 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is October 19. The polling is scheduled on November 3 and counting of votes on November 10.
The candidates can file nomination and affidavits online and they have to submit the hardcopy before the Returning Officer after taking a print out, she said. The candidates must give details of their social-media accounts also.
As part of safety measures for Covid-19, voters will get hand gloves while signing in the register and using the electronic voting machine (EVM). Sanitizers will be used. Those electors in isolation can vote in the last hour before close of polling.
The Congress, BJP, Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J), Nationalist Congress Party and other representatives took part in the meeting.