EC holds review meet on polls to local bodies

Nizamabad: State Election Commissioner (SEC) P Ramakantha Reddy held a review meeting in the town on Sunday in connection with the conduct of elections to local bodies and to Gram Panchayats. Officials belonging to Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad districts participated in the meeting. He said that the decision to conduct elections to the local bodies (including Gram Panchayats) in the State was taken as per the orders of the Supreme Court on February 18, 2013. The elections to Mandal Parishads, Zilla Parishands would also be held along with the Panchayats. The polls would be held as per 2001 census. A review meeting relating to Visakhapatnam, West Godavari and Guntur districts was already held, he said. The rules and regulations which are applicable for conducting general elections (to the parliament and to Assemblies) are also applicable to the elections to the local bodies. The voters have to produce the voter identity cards and other identification documents at the time of voting. Those who have crossed the age of 21 are eligible to exercise their voting rights, he said. He said that the candidates willing to contest on reservation basis have to submit necessary caste certificates at the time of filing nominations. The persons with more than two children are not eligible to contest in the polls. The District Collectors, SPs and other officials have to chalk out plans for smooth conduct of polls and to provide proper security arrangements at polling stations. The ballot papers have to be printed locally by inviting tenders, he added. Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary Nagireddy said that the polls would be held based on 2001census. Reservations would be applicable as per the norms set up by the State Government. For the implementation of reservations, the process relating to the allocation of seats (wards or Panchayats) on community base would be completed within a week, he said. The officials have to identify the problematic panchayats or mandals and take extra precautions, he added. Nizamabad Collector Christina Z Chongthu said that there are 718 GPs in the district and the polls to these panchayats would be held in three phases. The polls to Mandal Parishads and ZPs would be held in one phase. Adilabad Collector A Ashok said that there are 866 panchayats in the district and the polls would be held in three phases. Medak Collector said that there are 1,077 panchayats in Medak district and the polls would be held in three phases. SPs, RDOs and District Panchayat Officers of the three districts of Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad participated in the meeting.