Vizag gears up for MPTC, ZPTC polls

Visakhapatnam: The Visakhapatnam district administration is wrapping up preparations to conduct the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner, informed District Collector and Election Officer M Abhishikth Kishore. According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission, the nomination process begins on October 21. Elections will be held for four ZPTC and 53 MPTC seats in the district.

The notification was issued on October 19 and October 23 is the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 24, while polling is scheduled for November 3. Counting of votes and declaration of results are scheduled for November 5.

Ahead of the polls, the district administration established 16 zones to ensure smooth election conduct. A total of 203 polling stations are being set up across 106 locations. As many as 1,462 personnel have been assigned election duties, while 25 routes are identified for transporting polling equipment.

To ensure strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, four teams of model code monitoring personnel, flying squads and static surveillance teams have been constituted. In addition, two video viewing teams, five election expenditure verification teams and five single-window clearance teams are formed.

The Election Commission fixed the election expenditure limit at Rs 4 lakh for MPTC candidates and Rs 8 lakh for ZPTC candidates.

The Collector advised all candidates to strictly adhere to the Election Commission’s guidelines and ensure that poll-related activities are conducted within the prescribed rules. Clarifying the nomination procedure, he said ZPTC candidates must submit their nomination papers at the Returning Officer’s chambers established at Zilla Parishad office.

MPTC candidates should file their nominations at the Returning Officer’s chambers in the respective Mandal Parishad offices.

Collector Abhishikth Kishore stated that the Returning Officers were appointed in accordance with Election Commission guidelines. The Joint Collector will serve as the Returning Officer for the council elections, while the Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer will function as the additional election authority.

The Collector appealed to election officials, candidates and representatives of political parties to extend their cooperation to ensure that the elections are conducted in a transparent, peaceful manner in compliance with the prescribed rules.

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The Hans India