Dist admin gears up for GP election

The district administration is gearing up for gram panchayat election by imparting training to officials and personnel in a phased manner.

It has already appointed taluk-wise and gram panchayat-wise officials. They have been given necessary training and directed to hold a free and fair election.

District-level officials have been given the responsibility of taluk-wise responsibility. Professors, teachers, engineers, taluk-level officers have been appointed as election officers. All have been given training at taluk level.

Deputy Commissioner

Dr M V Venkatesh is holding many rounds of meetings and necessary precautionary steps are being taken in connection with the election.

A number of committees, including a committee to keep vigil on adherence to model code of conduct, have been set up.

Dr Venkatesh told Deccan Herald that election officers and assistant election officers have been necessary training on how to receive nomination papers, management of voting and other issues.

“We have also told them how to handle situation at village level, their duties and responsibilities during election time,” he added.

Preparations are being made with sufficient precautions as ballot papers will be used for the election, instead of electronic voting machines. The committee, which keeps a vigil on implementation of model code of conduct, is headed by Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer at the district level and Taluk Panchayat executive officer at the taluk level, he said.

Dr Venkatesh said strict action will be initiated against leaders of political parties if the model code of conduct is violated anytime after the notification of the election.
The officials will keep a vigil on luring voters with money, liquor, saris and abusing the opponents, he added.

Police and excise officials will keep an eye on sale and transport of illegal liquor from other districts or states. Police personnel will be deputed to check vehicles at eight checkposts in the district. All steps have been taken to ensure that no untoward incidents occur in the election time,he  explained.

 Dr Venkatesh said candidates, who want to contest the election, should have toilets at their houses.

If not, they should give in writing that they will build a toilet within a certain period of time after winning the election. If they do not get the toilet constructed at their houses even then, they will be disqualified from the gram panchayat membership. There will be no compromise in toilet construction and maintenance of cleanliness issues, he added.
This rule has been brought into effect to ensure that gram members maintain cleanliness at their houses first, Dr Venkatesh stated.