The Hindu 16.02.2013
Preparations under way for local body elections in Bidar district
As many as 281 booths set up in 149 wards: Deputy Commissioner.
Preparations to ensure the smooth conduct of the urban local body elections in Bidar district are under way, said P.C. Jaffer, Deputy Commissioner and District Electoral Officer, said here on Friday.
In the district, elections will be held for two city municipal councils (Bidar and Basavakalyan), three town municipal councils (Humnabad, Bhalki and Chitguppa), and one town panchayat (Aurad).
As many as 281 booths have been set up in 149 wards. The polls will be held on March 7, and votes will be counted on March 11.
As per the timetable, nominations can be filed till February 23. They will be scrutinised on February 25, and the last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 27. Those interested in contesting for the city municipal councils have to pay a deposit of Rs. 1,000. For town municipal councils, the fee is Rs. 500, and for town panchayats, Rs. 250.
‘Sensitive booths’
“Eighty-five of the booths are considered hypersensitive. Some persons with criminal antecedents will be taken into custody before the elections,” said Superintendent of Police K. Tyagarajan.
Ujwal Ghosh, zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer, and Sunil Panwar, Deputy Conservator of Forests, have been appointed supervising officials, along with 20 district officials, who have been appointed election officials.
In addition, 1,124 booth-level officials have also been appointed.
Distribution
Bidar has 149 booths in 35 wards for over 1.3 lakh voters. Basavakalyan has 47 booths in 31 wards, for 39,754 voters.
Humnabad has 24,904 voters in 23 wards with 25 booths.
Both Bhalki (with 21,782 voters) and Chitguppa (with 14,148 voters) have 23 booths each in 23 wards, while Aurad has 14 booths in 14 wards for 9,959 voters.
Enforcement
The code of conduct for elections has come into force in the jurisdiction of all urban local bodies, from Friday, according to Dr. Jaffer. The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued regulations regarding the smooth conduct of elections and the monitoring of candidates’ expenses.
All banners, posters and buntings may be put up only after the necessary permissions are obtained from officials on election duty. Their content should confirm to SEC rules.
Eight nodal officers, each with a team of five, have been appointed to monitor any violations of the code of conduct. All nodal officers will report to Mr. Ghosh, the Deputy Commissioner said.
