Code of conduct enforced for Haridwar panchayat elections

DEHRADUN: The model code of conduct has been imposed in rural areas of Haridwar where the three-phased panchayat elections for the posts of members of gram panchayat, pradhan of gram panchayat and members of zila panchayat will be held on December 21, December 27 and January 2, 2016, respectively.

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 28

The model code of conduct has been imposed in rural areas of Haridwar where the three-phased panchayat elections for the posts of members of gram panchayat, pradhan of gram panchayat and members of zila panchayat will be held on December 21, December 27 and January 2, 2016, respectively.

While issuing the notification today, State Election Commissioner Suberdhan said for the three-phased panchayat elections, the model code of conduct would remain in place in the rural areas of Haridwar district.

“In the first phase, in the Luxar and Khanpur rural areas of Haridwar, the polling will be held on December 21and the counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on January 5, 2016. In the second phase, in Bhadarabad and Bhagwanpur, the polling will be held on December 27 and counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on January 5, 2016. In the third and final phase in Roorkee and Narsan rural areas of Haridwar, the polling will be held on January 2, 2016, and the counting of votes and declaration of result will be held on January 5, 2016,” said Suberdhan.

He said for the first time, the three-phased elections were being held due to the shortage of manpower as there were limited policemen and officials to oversee elections.

“Though we have started using EVMs for the urban local bodies elections, their use has not been extended to the rural bodies and panchayat elections. Only ballot papers will be used,” said Suberdhan.

For the three and the final phase, the nominations will begin on December 1and the last date for the withdrawal of names will be December 10.

A total of 3,736 gram panchayats will be part of the election process and around 8,30,905 voters will cast their votes for these elections.

18,434 candidates barred

On the basis of the last elections, the State Election Commission has barred around 18,434 candidates from contesting elections as they failed to submit the details of their immovable and movable property while filing their nomination papers. They were issued show-cause notices but they failed to respond. Out of 18,434 candidates, 3,066 hail from Haridwar and they will not be able to contest the elections this year.