Assam SEC announced municipal board poll on March 6

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam SEC (State Election Commission) has announced the municipal board election schedule. According to the notification, the municipal board election will be on March 6 and counting on March 9.

The model code of conduct came into effect today in the respective areas of municipal boards.

Talking to the media today, SEC Commissioner Alok Kumar said, "We will conduct the election in 80 of the 81 municipal boards of the state. We have not been notified of the poll schedule for the Silchar Municipal Board following a case filed in the Gauhati High Court.

"We will use M2 EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) for the first time in municipal board elections in the state. Earlier, we used secret ballots in all municipal board elections."

Spelling out the poll schedule, the SEC Commissioner said, "The last date of nomination is February 15, the scrutiny on February 17, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is February 20. the election will be on March 6 and the counting on March 9.

"The election will be in 977 wards and 2,054 polling stations in 80 municipal boards. Apart from police personnel for law and order, 20,000-25,000 government employees will be on duty during the poll and the counting. We will depute 33 poll observers from February 14 till counting."

When asked about EVM detail, the SEC Commissioner said, "M2 EVMs do not have the VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) facility. We have discussed with various political parties on this issue. The Election Commission of India has not allowed M3 EVMs that have VVPAT facilities for municipal board and panchayat polls. We will use the EVMs used in the recent Bihar panchayat polls. M2 EVMs are 100 per cent certified ones."

According to SEC sources, the total electors for the 80 municipal boards is 16,73,899, the breakup being 8,32,348 males, 8,41,534 females and 17 third genders.

The SEC has banned roadshows, bike rallies and padayatras till February 15. The SEC will review it after that. It will specify the number of public attending pre-poll rallies.

The terms of the municipal boards expired in March 2020, but the SEC could not conduct the election due to Covid-19.

The municipal boards going to poll are of Tinsukia, Makum, Doomdooma, Chapakhowa, Margherita, Digboi, Dibrugarh, Naharkatia, Chabua, Namrup, Sivasagar, Amguri, Demow, Nazira, Simaluguri, Sonari, Moran, Jorhat, Teok, Titabor, Mariani, Golaghat, Dergaon, Sarupathar, Barpathar, Bokakhat, Nagaon, Raha, Dhing, Kampur, Hojai, Lanka, Lumding, Doboka, Dhemaji, Silapathar, North Lakhimpur, Bihpuria, Narayanpur, Dhakuakhana, Biswanath, Sootea, Gohpur, Tezpur, Rangapara, Dhekiajuli, Jamugurihat, Mangaldai, Kharupetia, Sipajhar, Morigaon, Palasbari, North Guwahati, Rangiya, Nalbari, Tihu, Barpeta, Barpeta Road, Howli, Sarthebari, Sorbhog, Pathsala, Patacharkuchi, Bongaigaon, Abhayapuri, Dhubri, Gauripur, Goloakganj, Chapar, Bilasipara, Sapatgram, Goalpara, Lakhipur, Sonai, Lakhipur (Cachar), Hailakandi, Lala, Karimganj, Badarpur and Ramkrishna Nagar.

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