Coimbatore: As the first phase of local body polls for rural areas are all set to commence tomorrow (December 27) final inspections are underway to ensure free and fair elections.
Coimbatore: As the first phase of local body polls for rural areas are all set to commence tomorrow (December 27) final inspections are underway to ensure free and fair elections.
G. Govindaraj, Registrar of Co-operative Societies, who is the State Election Commission-nominated special observer for the district, and the District Collector inspected the polling boxes and ballots being sent to the respective polling centres in Pollachi (North) Panchayat Union.
They jointly inspected the preparedness of polling centre at Mahalingam College in Pollachi. District Collector, K Rajamani interacted with the officials to check on security arrangements, placement of barricades at appropriate places, drinking water, toilet facilities and power supply. The officials were asked to check if all the CCTV cameras are in working condition.
4494 polling officers have been deployed for the first phase of rural local body elections. In addition, 2350 police personnel, 400 home guards and 100 ex-servicemen will be on duty on December 27 and 30.
On December 27, voting will be held in five panchayats in Madukkarai, Kinnathkadavu, Pollachi (North), Pollachi (South) and Anaimalai in Coimbatore district. The total voters in the five Panchayats is 3,46,350.
Out of the 642 polling centres in the five Panchayats,148 centres have been ear-marked as sensitive. Arrangements have been made to film the entire polling procedures at all 24 sensitive. The remaining polling stations will be monitored through micro-election observers.
In total 2989 candidates are contesting for 1220 seats including 26 candidates for District Panchayat Ward membership, 229 candidates for the 66 Panchayat Ward membership, 395 candidates for 127 Panchayat Ward post and 2920 candidates for 1030 Panchayat Ward members.
Pollachi Collector Vaidyanathan, Co-Registrar of Co-operative Societies Palanisamy, Rural Development Officers Pasupathi, Thasildhar Thanigaivel, Venkatachalam, Regional Thasildhar Jayakumar, Assistant Election Officer Sairaj, and many government officials were present during the inspection.