HUBBALLI
: The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for free-and-fair HDMC elections to be held on Friday.
After delimitation of wards, the number of wards has increased to 82 from 67, making HDMC the second biggest corporation after BBMP in the state. This is the first election after delimitation.
Active campaigning ended at 7am on Wednesday. The
State Election Commission
has allowed only door-to-door campaigns to curb the spread of Covid-19. All parties have left no stone unturned in covering all wards within a span of a short period to woo voters.
Those who have tested positive for Covid-19 can also cast their votes as special arrangements have been made for them. Around 8,17,372 voters, of whom 4,11,092 women will exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 420 candidates on Friday.
Deputy commissioner
Nitesh Patil
said, “We have taken all measures to ensure an incident-free election. Voting will be held from 7am to 6pm on Friday while counting of votes will be held on September 6. As a precautionary measure, the police department has confiscated 913 licensed weapons and we have given exemption to 100 licensed weapons. The excise department which has launched a special drive to curb the sale of illegal liquor during the election period, has filed 74 cases in this connection from August 16 to 26 and seized liquor and vehicles worth Rs 1.21 lakh.”
Patil said 842 polling booths have been set up in all 82 wards, of which 108 have been identified as sensitive booths. Security has been beefed up in all booths and 3,704 staff from various departments have been deployed for election duty.
Voters must wear a mask and maintain social distance while waiting for their turn in the queue to cast votes.
Patil said those who have tested positive for Covid-19 are allowed to cast their votes an hour before the end of voting. “We have appointed Dr
Sridhar Dandeppanavar
as a nodal officer to make arrangements for positive persons to vote. So, interested positive patients should inform the nodal officer on or before September 2,” he said.
Prohibitory orders In view of HDMC election, the district administration has imposed prohibitory orders barring any assembly or meeting in public places from 6am on Wednesday to 6pm on Friday under
section 144 of CrPC.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.
Start a Conversation
Post comment