With poll timeline announced and model code of conduct enforced in rural areas of the district, Ranchi district administration is preparing itself for the upcoming three-tier Panchayat elections.
Election schedule in Ranchi, training dates of presiding officers, workforce to be involved and other preparations for the poll were revealed by Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar on Monday.
He informed, “The election will be held in four stages, as previously known. As per the schedule, Kanke, Nagri, Itki, Bero and lapung will see the first stage of elections on Nov 22, the second stage of elections will cover Silli, Angara, Namkum and Ormanjhi on Nov 28.” “The third stage will be in Khalari, Burmu, Ratu, Mandar and Chanho on Dec 5, and the fourth and last stage will be in Tamar, Bundu, Sonahatu and Rahe on Dec 12. The counting will be conducted on Dec19,” he added.
“The Government officials have been informed of the effect model code of conduct will have on welfare schemes. The Centre and State funded schemes will continue unhindered, only those which require direct intervention of panchayat functionaries will be affected. Copies of model code of conduct elaborating the same and other topics have already been circulated,” Kumar said. Direct elections are to be conducted for 305 posts of Mukhiya, 365 members of Panchayat Samiti and 36 members of Zila Parishad. “Three training sessions for presiding officers will be conducted – the first one being on Wednesday and the rest two during first and second weeks of November. If need be, one more training session will be conducted,” he said.
He further said, “There will be two batches of presiding officials, one will be responsible for the first and third stages of elections and the other will look after second and fourth stages. Considering this arrangement, the requirements of officials has been pegged at seven thousand. We have asked for the list of officials, but the complete list is yet to reach us.” As the votes are to be cast using ballot paper, six thousand ballot boxes have arrived from Howrah for the panchayat elections. Elaborate security arrangements were also promised during the panchayat polls. “We are determining the number of sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling booths in the district. As per our estimation, we expect around 50 to 60 per cent of booths to fall under the sensitive category. We will be employing four to five hundred security personnel for conducting uneventful elections,” DC said.