The State Election Commission (SEC) on Saturday announced to hold the municipal elections for 13 urban local bodies on May 26, imposing the Model Code of Conduct with immediate effect in the areas where the polls are scheduled.
The Commission will conduct elections in Deoghar Municipal Corporation, Dhanbad Municipal Corporation, Chas Municipal Corporation, Chakradharpur Municipal Council, Jumri Telaiya Municipal Council, Bishrampur Municipal Council, Koderma Municipal Panchayat and Majigaon Municipal Panchayat as the five-year tenure of Mayor and Ward Councillors is concluding in the months of May-June.
Meanwhile, By-Polls will be conducted for the Ward Councillors of Ward number 39 under Ranchi Municipal Corporation, Ward number 9 of Adityapur Municipal Council, Ward number 26 of Medninagar Municipal Corporation, Ward number 28 of Phusro Municipal Council and Ward number 4 of Mihijam Municipal Panchayat.
“The form 5 regarding information on elections will be published by the Deputy Commissioners(DCs) cum District Election Officers on April 30. Candidates can apply for the nomination from May 2 to 8. The nominations will be scrutinized on May 9. Candidates can withdraw their names on May 11. Polls symbols will be allotted to the candidates on May 12. Voting in all the 13 civic bodies is scheduled on May 26,” said State Election Commissioner Shiv Basant during a press conference on Saturday.
The counting of the votes will be done on May 29. Basant said all the formalities of the polls would be completed by May 30. As many as 12, 32,458 voters, including 6,78,872 men and 5, 53,586 women will cast their votes in the upcoming polls.
Basant said money, muscle and liquor power should not be used by the candidates during the elections. Ministers and Government Officers are restricted to switch off red lights of their cars in the areas covered under the Model Code. “Meetings on security arrangements were conducted with DCs, Superintendents of Police, Additional Director General of Police (Operations) and Urban Development Secretary on April 18 and today as well,” Basant said.
For the convenience of voters control rooms will be made at SEC and all the participating District Election Offices. Basant said complaints over unethical activities of candidates can be reported at these control rooms. “People can call and complain us at 2284008. They can even send us fax at 2284002. We will direct DCs to release their phone numbers for addressing grievances by April 30,” he said.
Asked on how the SEC will keep a watch on the paid news, Basant said all the DCs and election officers have been informed about the matter. “We have also trained observers for checking paid news on television, newspapers and radio,” he pointed out. The SEC has marked separate campaigning budget for candidates contesting for Mayor, Chairman and Ward Councillor posts at Municipal Corporation, Council and Panchayat levels.