Local polls: Arrangements complete for first phase

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 23. The State Election Commission has completed the arrangements for holding the first phase of panchayat and municipal elections which would be the biggest poll exercise to be held in the State.

The State Election Commissioner, Mr. M.S. Joseph, said that campaigning in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kasaragod districts, which will go to polls on September 25, would close at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Campaigning would close in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur districts at 5 p.m. on Monday. The polling there is scheduled for September 27.

The Commissioner told presspersons that 58,320 candidates were contesting for a total of 16,021 seats. The number of candidates, however, was lower than in the last elections when there were 58,600 contestants for 14,245 seats. The average number of contestants competing for one seat had thus come down from 4.1 to 3.6.

Among the village panchayats, the largest number of candidates was at Nadukka ward in Pallichal Panchayat - 15. The Kalayanathandu constituency in Kattappana Block Panchayat (Idukki district) with nine candidates has the largest number of candidates among block panchayats. The Mundakkayam ward of Kottayam has the largest number of candidates among district panchayats - eight.

Raghunadhapuram in Varkala Municipality and Anantharamapuram in Adoor Municipality have the largest number of candidates among municipalities (11 each). The Karippalam ward of Kochi Corporation, which has 13 candidates in the fray, tops among city corporation wards, Mr. Joseph said.

Straight fights were on in 2,339 village panchayats, 318 block panchayats, 32 district panchayats, 284 municipal and 16 city corporation constituencies. As many as 44 candidates had been elected unopposed. Elections in four constituencies have been countermanded following the death of candidates.

The Commissioner said that electioneering during the past three weeks had been generally peaceful. Political parties had shown a tendency to avoid friction and settle issues. He hoped that this attitude would prevail during the polling also. All steps had been taken for maintaining law and order. Some sensitive polling stations have been identified and special arrangements made to ensure peaceful polling.

Mr. Joseph said no complaints had been received from candidates about misuse of official machinery though some complaints have been received from political parties. Complaints from candidates were mostly in the nature of opponents claiming to be official candidates of his own party or front.

He said that the Commission planned strong follow-up on election offences detected. A separate section under a law officer was working under the Commission for this purpose. The Commission will appoint its own counsel to prosecute the offenders. Violence, booth-capturing and impersonation would not be tolerated. Breach of election rules such as continuation of the campaigns after deadline, campaigning near polling stations, transport of voters and misbehaviour at polling stations would invite prosecution and disqualification from contesting future elections.

Officials found to be working or acting on behalf of candidates would be proceeded against. They would be suspended and prosecuted. The Commission had already suspended two, and six were facing prosecution. Poll observers had been given powers to stop polling and counting if it became impossible to proceed with it. Collectors had been asked to use video cameras for maintaining law and order and identifying those engaging in violence.

Voting machines would be used in five municipal corporations. This would require 2,030 voting machines. This is the first time that voting machines are being used in municipal elections.

He said the total cost of conducting the elections would be about Rs. 20 crores. As many as 2.11 lakh officials had been deputed for election duty. There was shortage of staff in districts such as Kannur, Wayanad and Palakkad. As many as 7,000 vehicles and 100 boats were in use. Complete results of the first phase could be out by September 29.

Paid holiday for workers on poll day

The Labour Commissioner, Mr. S. Ayyappan Nair, has asked employers to give the workers, who come under the Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, a paid holiday on polling day.

In an official press note here today, he said that if a holiday cannot be given for unavoidable reasons, the employers should make arrangements to enable the workers to exercise their franchise.

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Section  : Southern States
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