Voters to seal fate of 146 candidates in fray today

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 16

The voting for the Municipal Councils (MC) in Sahnewal, Mullanpur-Dakha, Machhiwara and a Nagar Panchayat (NP) in Maloud will be held on Sunday. A total of 146 candidates are in the fray for 52 seats in three MCs and one NP, while candidates from two seats have been elected unopposed.

The administration claimed to have made all arrangements for the polling that will start at 8 am and continue till 4 pm at 68 polling stations in these areas. The counting of votes will be done after 4 pm.

The EVMs and poll material were handed over to the polling parties today. A total of 68 polling parties have been rushed to the polling stations, while the reserved polling parties can be called anytime to deal with any emergency. Each polling party comprises four members, including a presiding officer, an assistant presiding officer and two polling officers. The police teams have also been deployed.

The poll duty staff in Sahnewal was given the poll material at the collection centre in Malwa Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School on College Road, Ludhiana, today. They were also given instructions by the authorities concerned. Earlier, the polling staff was given training during two rehearsals sessions.

There are 11 wards of NP Maloud, while two candidates including Shawn Puri (Independent) from Ward No. 4 and Namita Markan (Congress) from Ward No. 5 of Malloud MC have been elected unopposed. Now, the election will be held for the remaining nine wards of Maloud.

The polling will be held at 19 polling stations for 15 wards of MC Sahnewal. In Machhiwara, voting will be conducted at 23 polling stations for 15 wards under the MC. Besides, 17 polling stations have been made for election of 13 wards of MC Mullanpur-Dakha.

Notably, a total of 203 nominations were received by the ROs and were found correct. Of them, 55 candidates took their nominations back.

Additional District Election Officer-cum-Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Ludhiana, Surabhi Malik said: “All arrangements have been made. The voting will be conducted at 68 polling stations. Adequate security arrangements have been made for the elections in a peaceful and fair manner. If required, we will call the reserved staff for poll duty. The counting of votes will be done on the spot, while the presiding officer will work as the ARO for counting votes.”

District Electoral Officer-cum-DC, Ludhiana, Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said 31 polling stations in the district have been declared sensitive. Voters can use NOTA for the first time in the MC/NP elections. Senior police and administrative officials will keep a vigil on the polling stations.

Liquor vends to remain close today

In view of the elections, District Magistrate-cum-DC Pradeep Kumar Agrawal, under Section 54(1) of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, ordered that dry day will be observed in the areas under the jurisdiction of Sahnewal, Mullanpur, Machhiwara and Maloud on Sunday. He said all liquor vends will remain closed. All restaurants, hotels and clubs have been directed not to offer liquor. Besides, no one can store liquor.