8.7L voters to decide fate of candidates in Haryana civic polls today

Chandigarh: Haryana is set to vote on Sunday in elections to seven urban local bodies, including the municipal corporations of Panchkula, Sonipat and Ambala, with over 8.7 lakh electors eligible to cast their votes. Polling will also be held for the municipal council of Rewari and the municipal committees of Uklana, Dharuhera and Sampla.A total of 18 candidates are in the fray for the posts of mayor in the three municipal corporations, while 284 candidates are contesting for corporator posts across 134 wards. Besides the civic polls, the State Election Commission will also conduct by-elections at several other places.In Rewari municipal council, six candidates are contesting for the post of president, while 155 are in the fray for councillor posts. Similar contests will be held in the remaining three municipal committees as well.The elections will be conducted using EVMs without VVPAT slips. While voters will have the option to choose NOTA, it will not be treated as a candidate.Haryana's state election commissioner Devender Kalyan said on Saturday that elaborate arrangements had been made and the concerned district election officers and returning officers have given the guidelines to ensure fair elections. The concerned authorities on Saturday dispatched the polling parties to all the 926 polling booths across the seven bodies. "This time we have also directed the deputy commissioners to appoint micro observers at the polling booths for the validation of voters and their identities. For the first time voter slips have reached the voters ahead of election. And, most importantly, we have made the special arrangements for the differently abled, aged and voters with special needs," said Kalyan. "We have asked the DCs and police officials to ensure peaceful elections and elaborate security arrangements have been made in accordance with category of booths. Additional spruced-up measures have been taken on sensitive, hyper-sensitive booths as well, added Kalyan. Meanwhile, polling parties reached their respective booths and completed preparatory arrangements on Saturday. The voting system will be installed early Sunday morning to ensure polling begins at 8 am, while live polling updates will be displayed on the dashboard.MSID:: 130978868 413 |