Only one candidate filed nomination paper for the post of the mayor of Raipur Municipal Corporation, (RMC) while five candidates filed nominations for the post of corporator on the second day of nomination process for the urban body elections here on Tuesday.
As many as five candidates purchased nomination forms for the post of Mayor and 150 for the post of corporators. According to officials, Mukesh Kumar Chopra filed nomination papers for the post of Mayor as well as for the post of Corporator of RMC.
He has filed nominations from BJP as well as Congress. For the post of Corporator in the SC reserved ward number 11, Sunder lal Jogi has filed nomination from Congress. From SC reserved ward number 23 Keshav Mohan Singh has filed nomination from Congress,
From SC reserved ward number 32 Dhaniram Vibhar has filed nomination. Mukesh Kumar Chopra has filed nomination from ward 39 from BJP as well as Congress. From the SC reserved ward 65 Nishant Singade has filed nomination papers from Congress.
The officials said that 155 candidates collected nomination forms including 5 forms for the post of Mayor. The candidates who collected nomination forms for the post of Mayor were Kashinath Prasad, Ashish Kumar Soni, Bholanath Tiwari, Prashant Shambharkar and Pramod Dubey.
The nomination form for the post of Mayor is available at the Collectorate for `5000 for general category and for `2500 for SC, ST and women category. Similarly for the post of Corporator, the nomination form is available for `1000 for general category and for `500 for SC,ST and women category.
Meanwhile, Collector and District Magistrate Thakur Ram Singh on Tuesday appointed officers for granting permission for election campaign, route for rallies, use of loudspeakers on campaign vehicles and rallies.
The election campaign and use of loudspeaker for rallies will be allowed between 6am and 10 pm after getting permission from the authorized officer. The Additional District Magistrate has been authorized for granting permission to the candidates for the post of Mayor and for big rallies within the limits of Raipur Municipal Corporation.
Similarly Assistant Returning Officers will give permission to the corporators. Similarly for areas outside the limits of RMC and within the jurisdiction of Raipur sub division, the permission will be granted by the concerned Sub Divisional Officer. The authorized officers will receive the applications in given format and issue permission in the prescribed format.
Singh has also invoked Section 144 of CrPC 1973 to maintain peace during urban body election and for free, fair and peaceful conduct of election. The order came into immediate effect from Tuesday. According to the order, no person can carry arms like gun, rifle, revolver, pistol, sword, spear, baton, or any other arm at public places within the limits of Raipur district.
However, the government officers and employees are exempted who need arms or baton for their work. The order is also not imposed on people who are carrying baton (lathi) as support in walking due to their physical weakens or disability. The order restricts people gathering in groups without prior permission of the Competent Officer. The order also restricts from holding rally or taking out procession or staging dharna without prior permission of the Competent Officer.