SEC issues guidelines on use of vehicles

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 4. The State Election Commission has notified that candidates contesting the elections to Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies should obtain prior permit from the Revenue Divisional Officer or Sub-Collector concerned for the vehicles to be used in the campaign, and that these vehicles should not move in a convoy of more than two.

All bigger convoys should be broken up, even if they are carrying any Minister of the Central or State Government, but they can be accompanied by police vehicles providing security to the VIPs.

The SEC has said that candidates are required to furnish information about the vehicles to the RDO, and the RDO should transmit such information to the District Collector, who shall make the information available to observers appointed and to the press. This will help the common citizen bring to the notice of the authorities any unauthorised use of vehicles for campaign. Any vehicle, which has not been registered for campaign, if found used for campaign, will be immediately taken out of the campaign exercise, the SEC order said.

On the day of poll, candidates contesting for the ZPTC and their election agents, their workers and leaders of political parties will be permitted to use only two vehicles, one for the candidate and another for the election agent. The candidates contesting for the MPTC will he permitted to use only one vehicle for his movement within the constituency. No separate vehicle will be allowed to the MPTC candidate for his agents.

The RDO or Sub-Collector will issue permits to candidates contesting the election for the use of vehicle on the day of the poll, and this should be displayed on the vehicle.

The SEC said the Collectors and Superintendents of Police have to implement the instructions scrupulously. They were also directed to make arrangements to open special checkposts in the district to effectively check unauthorised movement of vehicles during the campaign and on the day of poll. On the day of poll, public transport vehicles, private cars and taxis will be allowed to ply but they should not be clandestinely used for conveyance of voters.

TD nominees elected

The Telugu Desam Party has opened its account even before polling for panchayat raj institutions when its candidates were declared elected unopposed in 26 Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

According to the State Election Commission, the TDP bagged nine seats in Kurnool district, six in Srikakulam, two each in Anantapur, Chittoor and Prakasam and one each in Cuddapah, East Godavari, Guntur, Nellore and West Godavari. No ZPTC in Telangana region figures in the list.

The following are the details of the ZPTCs won by the ruling party: Tadimarri, Dharmavaram (Anantapur district), Pitchatur, Gudipalle (Chittoor), Gopavaram (Cuddapah), Shankaravaram (E. Godavari), Chebrolu (Guntur), Mantralayam, Kosgi, Chippagiri, Sirivella, Chagalamarri, Uyyalawada, Dornipadu, Peapally, Krishnagiri (Kurnool), Kondapuram (Nellore), Voletivaripalem, Santamagaluru (Prakasam), Rajam, Kotabommali, Santhabommali, Ragadi-Amadalavalasa, Kottur, Sarvakota (Srikakulam) and Lingapalem (W. Godavari).

After withdrawal of 2,841 nominations on the last day on Tuesday, around 4,400 candidates were left in the fray. With the elections being unanimous in 26 ZPTCs, polling will be held only in 1065 constituencies on July 12 and 15.

A record number of 1172 candidates remained in the fray for 56 ZPTCS in Karimnagar district where four-cornered contests will be witnessed in several constituencies. In Mahabubnagar district 249 candidates will fight for 64 seats.

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Section  : Southern States
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