73 seek BJP ticket for 28 posts in Ateli, Kanina civic bodies

Orders issued to deposit firearms within week

• In light of the civic body elections, the District Magistrate has issued orders telling licensed weapon holders within the jurisdiction to deposit their firearms at the police stations concerned within a week
• However, certain exemptions have been made
• Authorised security guards posted at various banks and private institutions holding licences in the name of the banks, security personnel stationed at ATMs, as well as those responsible for cash transportation and filling ATMs are excluded
• Members of the National Rifle Association who participate in shooting events are also exempted

Seventy-three individuals have applied for the BJP ticket to contest the poll for the two posts of Chairman and 26 posts of Municipal Councillor in the Ateli and Kanina municipal committees as the district administration gears up for the upcoming urban local bodies’ election, scheduled for March 2.

Though the nomination process began on Monday, no one filed the papers that day.

Prospective candidates remained busy in completing their formalities.

February 17 is the last date of filing the nomination.

“Ten persons have applied for the BJP ticket for the post of Chairman in Ateli, while seven have applied for the same position in Kanina. Their names have been forwarded to the party’s state leadership, which will finalise the candidates for the top posts in both municipal committees,” said BJP district president Daya Ram Yadav.

Yadav said 30 persons had applied for the BJP ticket for 14 posts of Councillor in Kanina and 26 for 12 posts in Ateli. “The candidates will be singled out by the party’s election committee on the basis of winnability and other vital factors,” he added.

In the meantime, the district administration has announced that candidates wishing to contest in Ateli must submit their nomination papers in the Administrator’s Room at the Ateli Municipal Council Office. Nominations for the Kanina Municipal Committee will be filed at the office of the Kanina SDM.

Dr Jitendra Singh, the Returning Officer for Kanina, said nominations could be submitted until February 17, from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm. No nominations would be accepted on the holidays (February 12 and 16) falling in the aforementioned period.

Additionally, a spokesperson for the district administration said, as per the guidelines issued by the state Election Commission, a public holiday would be observed on March 2 for the elections in Ateli and Kanina.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Vivek Bharti said all commercial industrial enterprises and businesses within the jurisdiction of these municipal committees will be closed on the day of the polls.