Haryana State Election Commission has announced the schedule for General Elections of Municipal Corporation, Gurugram, Municipal Committee, Barara in Ambala, Radaur in Yamuna Nagar and Bye-elections in ward No. 9, 2 and 10 of Municipal Committee, Pehowa (Kurukshetra), Pataudi (Gurugram) and Dharuhera (Rewari). The polling would be held on September 24 between 7am and 5pm. Votes would be counted after the close of voting at polling stations on the same day. The election result would be declared on the same day.
The State Election Commissioner, Dr. Dalip Singh stated that as many as 5,57,967 voters, including 2,92,462 males and 2,65,505 females, in the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram, 16,689 voters, including 8,765 males and 7,924 females, in the Municipal Committee, Barara, and 10,280 voters, including 5,460 males and 4,820 females in the Municipal Committee, Radaur, would exercise their franchise.
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The Model code of conduct in respect of these municipal elections shall come into force from 30 August. Additionally, no officer or official currently engaged in election work would be transferred till the completion of the election process.
Dr. Singh said that the expenditure limit for contesting the election of Municipal Corporation has been fixed to Rs. 5 lakh and for contesting the elections of Municipal Committee it is Rs 2 lakh. All the contesting candidates are required to maintain account of election expenditure and submit the same within 30 days from the date of declaration of election result to the Deputy Commissioner or an officer authorized by the State Election Commission, failing which the defaulting candidate shall be liable to be disqualified for a period of five years from the date of issue of such order.
The notice inviting nominations would be published by the Returning Officer on September 1 and nomination papers would be presented between September 8 and 13 with the final date for withdrawal of candidature being set for September 15 and allotments of symbols being done on the same day.
He said that elaborate arrangements for the conduct of elections in free, fair, transparent and peaceful manner and to maintain law and order would be made. Heavy police force would be deployed to maintain the law and order at the polling stations and the sensitive and hypersensitive areas for conducting the elections.
The photographs of the contesting candidates shall be got printed on the ballot papers alongwith other particulars to be displayed on the balloting unit of EVMs and in the tender ballot papers in addition to the existing particulars. The photograph of the candidate shall be printed in the panel and shall appear on the right side of the name in between the name and symbol of the candidate. The NOTA (None of the Above) option will also be used in these elections.
He appealed to the voters to participate in the elections to elect the members of municipalities for strengthening the democracy at grass root level.
