DC promises fair polls, rejects propaganda by political parties

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 3

Rejecting outrighly the propaganda being unleashed by some political parties regarding the ensuing Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls, the Deputy Commissioner (DC)-cum-District Election Officer Jalandhar Varinder Kumar Sharma on Monday said the polls in the district would be held in a free, fair and transparent manner under the supervision of the State Election Commission (SEC).

In a statement issued here, the Deputy Commissioner said since the model code of conduct had been enforced after the notification of the polls, the entire government machinery was now directly under the command and supervision of the SEC for conducting the polls smoothly.

He said the district administration was duty-bound to ensure that the polls were held peacefully and in a transparent manner, so that people could exercise their franchise freely. Sharma also said the entire exercise would be held as per the stipulated rules.

The DC further said the elections were always held with ballot paper and the tradition would be maintained this time also. Sharma said for polls of urban local bodies, some old EVMs had been used at places in the past but elections for the Panchayati Raj Institutions have always been held with ballot papers.

The DC also said as per Rule 34 of the Punjab Panchayat Elections Rules, the counting for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti was to be held after collecting the ballot boxes at one secure place, which was notified well in advance. He said in compliance of these rules, in the past also, counting for Zila parishad and Block Samiti has always been done after a gap of two or three days of polling.

“The election will be held as per the statutory rules and no one will be allowed to take law in their hands. I appeal to the people to participate in the elections with enthusiasm so as to strengthen democracy at the grassroot level,” he added.