Bye elections on 578 vacant seats for panchayats announced

cHANDIGARH, JUNE 5

 Haryana State Election Commissioner, Dr. Dalip Singh today announced the election programme for the conduct of the Bye elections on 578 vacant seats of Panches, Sarpanches of Gram Panchayat and Members of Panchayat Samitis and General Elections of three Gram Panchayats that is Gram Panchayat Chandu and Wazirpur, Block Gurugram and Gram Panchayat Budhera, Block Farukh Nagar, District Gurugram. The poll for these elections would be held on June 29, 2017 between 7 am to 4 pm.

          Giving details of the programme, he said that the District Election Officer would publish notice on June 7, 2017, nomination papers would be presented from June 14 to 19, 2017 from 10 am to 3 pm. The list of nominations papers received would be pasted and affidavit or declaration would be furnished from June 14 to 19, 2017.

          He said that the nomination papers would be scrutinized on June 20, 2017 from 10 amonwards. The last date for withdrawal of candidature by a candidate is June 21, 2017 up to 3 pm. The symbols would be allotted on June 21, 2017 after 3 pm. The list of contesting candidates would be pasted on June 21, 2017, immediately after the allotment of symbols. The counting of votes would be done, immediately after the close of poll and in case of repoll, the Commission might change the date and time of counting of votes, he added.

          He further added that according to the programme, Nomination papers for the election to Panches and Sarpanches of Gram Panchayats would be filed and received at the concerned Gram Panchayat Headquarter by the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer (Panchayat) and the nomination paper for the members of Panchayat Samitis would be filed and received at the concerned Block Headquarter by the Returning Officer or Assistant Returning Officer (Panchayat Samiti).

          He said that the scrutiny of the nomination papers would be taken up by the Returning Officers only. The votes for these elections would be given by recording of votes by voting machines, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

          He said that the counting of votes for all the elections would be held at all the polling stations on the same day, but before starting counting, the Returning Officers would ensure that voting in all the polling booths under their control have been completed.

          He said that a candidate filing the nomination paper for contesting the election for the seat of Panch, Sarpanch and Member Panchayat Samiti would have to deposit an amount in Government Treasury or Sub Treasury or with the respective Returning Officer in cash. The amount is Rs 100 for General and Rs 40 for Scheduled Caste or Backward Classes (SC/BC) category candidate contesting for the seat of Panch, the amount is Rs 200 for General and Rs 100 for Scheduled Caste or Backward Classes (SC/BC) category candidate contesting for the seat of Sarpanch and the amount is Rs 300 for General and Rs 150 for Scheduled Caste or Backward Classes (SC/BC) category candidate contesting for the seat of Member Panchayat Samiti.

          He said that directions were being issued to all the Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Election Officers to give wide publicity to the above programme by munadi in villages, so that more and more people may come to cast their vote and elect the members of Panchayati Raj for strengthening the democracy at grass root level.

          He also said that NOTA(None of the above) option would be used in the elections of Sarpanch, so that voters who come to the polling stations and decide not to vote for any candidate in fray, are able to exercise their right not to vote with maintaining their right of secrecy.

          He further stated that any person whose name is not included in the voters list or electoral rolls of the concerned Gram Panchayats, would apply to the Deputy Commissioner concerned along with prescribed fee not later than four days from the date of publication of election programme.    

          He further appealed to all concerned voters to participate to elect the Members of Panchayati Raj Institutions for strengthening the democracy at grass root level. 

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