Date:29/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/29/stories/2008102952280300.htm

Other States - Orissa

BMC elections to be held on December 2

Staff Reporter

Counting will begin next day and results will be declared soon after, says the SEC

Indirect election for mayor and deputy mayor will be held on Dec. 10 and Dec. 26 respectively
The scrutiny of nominations by the election officer concerned will be taken up on Nov. 14

BHUBANESWAR: Elections for the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be held on December 2.

The State Election Commission (SEC) issued notification announcing that while the poll would be held on December 2, the counting of votes would be taken up the next day and results would be declared soon after the counting.

“The indirect election for the post of mayor and deputy mayor will be held on December 10 and December 26 respectively. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used for the first time in the general election to BMC,” the SEC said.

“The nomination forms would be available in the office of the election officer and the same would be handed over to them.The scrutiny of nominations by the concerned election officer will be taken up on November 14,” it said.

As per the notification the candidates could withdraw their candidature by 3 pm November 17.

Monitoring authority

The final list of candidates contesting in the election would be published on the same day.

The Khurda district magistrate would remain in over all charge of the election for the municipal corporation. Two commissioner-level senior IAS officers would be appointed as election observers and five senior officers of the rank of the Orissa Financial Services would supervise and oversee the smooth conduct of the election as expenditure observer.

The model code of conduct should be observed by the government, all political parties and candidates with effect from October 27.

“While normal development works and programmes which have already commenced, relief and restoration works, expenditure for which have been voted by the State Legislature and the schemes commenced with central assistance or any international agency will continue,” SEC said.

It warned, “No new schemes or projects of any kind can be started nor any financial concession can be promised or announced by government or any official agency which would have the effect of influencing directly or indirectly the voters.”

In the election to BMC, corporators from 60 wards would be elected.

One third of the seats would be filled up by women. Reservation of seats have been made for schedule caste and scheduled tribe candidates as per their population and 27 percent of seats have been reserved for other backward caste candidates.

In the 6,40,759 urban voters would participate in the poll. SEC has made it mandatory for everybody to produce photo identity card during the poll.