Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer (DRO) Dr Vishal R said all officials are bestowed with utmost responsibilities to ensure transparency in the process.
Speaking at the meeting to discuss the preparation for the panchayat elections, the official said the district administration is all set to ensure adequate arrangements to hold free and fair elections – which will be held on February 20.
He directed that there should be proper coordination among the Police, Revenue and Excise Departments and directions issued by the Election Commission should be strictly observed.
Dr Vishal instructed the officials to ensure optimum quality service of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and, if need arises, the bell engineers assistance would be sought. As many as 2,152 EVMs have been distributed and 188 are reserved – of which 92 are used for training purpose. The 2,152 power packs required for EVMs are distributed to the taluks. He added that as many as 60 sector officers are into service and separate teams are operational to look into the election expenses.
The tahsildars submitted the details over the infrastructural facilities offered at polling stations on the occasion.
The DRO said that there are 936 polling stations – of which, 904 are the main polling booths and 32 are auxiliaries. There are as many as 55 are sensitive polling booths, 12 are hyper-sensitive and 26 are Maoist-prone polling booths. “The elections will be held from 7 am to 5 pm. As many as 77 nominees are in the fray for the 26 zilla panchayat seats, while there are 233 candidates for 98 taluk panchayat constituencies,” he added.
The DRO directed the election officers, assistant election officers and nodal officers to inspect the polling stations thoroughly. “As many as 360 vehicles are given to the Revenue and Police Department to conduct elections uninterrupted.
Bhandarkars Arts and Science College, Kundapur, will be the mustering and de-mustering centres for Kundapur taluk. St Cecily School, Ajjarkadu, will be the mustering and de-mustering centre for Udupi taluk and Manjunath Pai Memorial Government First Grade College will be the mustering and de-mustering centre for Karkala taluk,” Dr Vishal explained.
