District Election Cell declares list of candidates in South

39 ZILLA PANCHAYAT AND 232 GRAM PANCHAYAT CANDIDATES IN THE FRAY IN SOUTH SIKKIM
NAMCHI, 28 Oct: The South District is all geared up for the upcoming Zilla and Gram Panchayat elections. The District Election Cell has finalised the list of candidates contesting in the Zilla and Gram Panchayat elections for which the number of polling stations have also been finalised. According to the Deputy Secretary (Election), Vishal Mukhia, a total of 39 Zilla Panchayat candidates are contesting for 15 Zilla Panchayat seats and 232 Gram Panchayat ward candidates are contesting for 99 Gram Panchayat ward seats. He further informed that a total of 149 Polling Stations have been set up for the Zilla Panchayat Elections while 100 Polling Stations have been identified for the Gram Panchayat Ward elections.
Regarding the prevalent law and order situation in South district, SP South, Manoj Tiwari told this reporter that after the clash between SDF and Golay supporters at Namthang and imposition of section 144 of CrPC in Namchi earlier this month, the situation has been kept under control and no untoward incident has been reported since.
Following the Namthang incident, the police has remained on high alert in the district and one platoon of IRBn deployed as reserve in Namchi. A section of IRBn has also been deployed as reserve at Namthang, Melli and Jorethang.
Two platoons have been kept on standby at the PTC Yangyang and Pipaley respectively for back up force in case of emergency, said SP South. He further informed that the ruling SDF party has taken permission to hold a rally at Namthang on 29 October while the PS Tamang [Golay] camp has taken permission to hold a public meeting at Yangyang on 31 October along with a similar meeting at Namthang as well.
With this things could heat up again in South Sikkim and the police are ready to take on any situation.
On the other hand, the contesting candidates had a very busy Dussehra as the Durga Puja celebrations along with the campaigning heightened the level of festivities for the public of the rural areas.
It may be mentioned here that the Panchayat elections are to be held on the 03 November, 2012 and the results shall be declared on the 05 November, 2012.