The State Election Commission (SEC) on Thursday announced poll schedules for the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in Jharkhand.
The four-phase election will take place in November-December, before the current tenure of elected members comes to an end.
The exercise for the first phase of the polls will begin on October 23, with notification of election and about a month long election will end with declaration of results of fourth phase constituencies on December 12. The commission announced that the model code of conduct has come into effect, however, only areas falling under the institutions of Panchayati Raj would come under the purview of the code.
“Election is in four-phase. Few blocks of all districts are included in the first phase of election. The model code of conduct has come into effect and except municipal and cantonment areas, all other areas will come under model code of conduct. No foundation stone laying shall take place in areas under zila parishad, panchayat samiti and panchayat as this will come under model code of conduct,” said State Election Commissioner, Shiv Basant.
Notification for phase first, second, third and four will be issued on October 23, 29 and November 5 and 12 respectively. The four rounds of Panchayat polls would be assisted by over two-lakh polling officials and about 1,19,513 large, 59,758 medium and small size ballot boxes will be used for storing mandate of 1,72,47,830 voters (Male-89,73,277 and Female- 82,74,552)in semi-urban and rural areas of Jharkhand. As many as four voting slips for as many wards of district council, blocks, gram panchayat and mukhiya will be given to voters to indicate their voting preferences.
like the previous election, women will form over half of the strength of elected representatives of the three-tier grass-root democratic setup of Jharkhand despite scaling down the percentage reservation from 57.8 per cent in 2010 to 52.58 per cent in the 2015 elections.
The commission has adopted a host of measures necessitated by sensitivity of the elections and to curb the tendency of offering inducements to voters. The measures include videography of all significant programmes, floating 24-hour toll-free numbers besides, setting up control rooms and grievance monitoring cell to keep track of expenditures and other activities of nature potentially detrimental to the democratic principles. The commission will be appointing ADM level officials as general observers for the polls.
Prevalence of anti-establishment forces in around 18 districts has pushed the State’s constabulary on its toes as it is entrusted with the responsibility of bringing people out of their houses and take part in the election process. The State Home Department expressed its readiness to facilitate “free and fair” elections.
“Very detailed planning has been done for the elections. Vulnerability mapping of vulnerable people on all booths has been completed. We will try that election at sensitive, hypersensitive and normal booths takes place with the help of regular forces,” said Additional Secretary, Home, NN Pandey.
Notably, the commission has directed all district elections officers to implement the provisions of the SC and The ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to ensure free elections.