Panchayat Election: Preparations completed for polling at 256 booths: Malerkotla admn

The administration here has claimed to have completed preparations for the conduct of panchayat polling at 256 booths situated in 176 villages falling under Malerkotla, Amargarh and Ahmedgarh subdivisions.

The first session for training of 1,552 government personnel to be deployed for polling through ballot paper will be held on Sunday. Though the exact number of polling stations where voting for election of sarpanches and panches would take place would be ascertained only after Tuesday, the last day of withdrawal of nominations, the administration has already prepared an itinerary for functioning of all 256 polling booths.

It is believed that several panchayats will be constituted unanimously without the process of polling.

Deputy Commissioner-cum-district election officer Dr Pallavi said preparations for conduct of peaceful polling at these polling booths had been completed under the supervision of ADC (Rural Development) Navdeep Kaur, Harbans Singh and Surinder Kaur, both SDMs.

“Following completion of the process for the submission of nomination papers for 176 sarpanches and 1,178 panches and subsequent scrutiny of nomination papers, we have started the process for training of election duty staff, that will commence on Sunday,” said Pallavi. She maintained that well-equipped teams of master trainers had already been formed. The second session of training will held on October 11 and polling parties will be handed over necessary materials, including ballot papers, on October 14, said the DC.

Election is being held in 69 villages in Malerkotla subdivision, 60 villages in Amargarh segment and 47 villages in Ahmedgarh subdivision.

Showing satisfaction over proactive security measures being made under the supervision of SSP Gagan Ajit Singh, Pallavi called upon residents to use their right to vote without fear, allurement or discrimination on caste and creed basis.

At the same time she cautioned candidates and their supporters to follow guidelines of the state election commission regarding free and fair conduct of elections to the panchayats. Strict action will be taken against all those, including government personnel, who attempt to violate the guidelines of the conduct of election, cautioned the DC.

Meanwhile, ADC (Rural Development) has said that Special Secretary, Power, Punjab, Bhupinder Singh had been deployed as general observer for panchayat election in Malerkotla district. She said people facing election-related issues could contact the observer through district revenue officer Mandeep Kaur on 9988386655.