Election Commissioner meets HoDs, delegates roles to ensure smooth municipal elections

Gangtok, 09 Sept [IPR]: Regarding the forth coming Municipal elections which are scheduled to take place on 09 October in the state of Sikkim, and to ensure that it is conducted smoothly, Sikkim State Election Commissioner, SK Gautam, today held a meeting with Heads of Departments and Secretaries of various departments including officers from Police department, All India Radio, and BSNL.
During the meeting, the Commissioner asked the Police department to see the Law & Order and make necessary security arrangements during the elections. He also asked the officials from the Home Department to circulate the implementation of Model Code of Conduct (only for the municipal area) and also declare holiday for the voters casting their vote for the Municipal elections.
Director Education Mr. Raje who was also present for the meet was assigned the task to declare holiday in the schools where the polling stations are to be made on the day of election.
For telecommunication Mr. Gautam asked the BSNL official for uninterrupted network during the election and also for additional connection in the State Election Commission (SCE) Office.
The Commissioner also requested the Transport Secretary to communicate with RTOs for requisition of vehicles for the forthcoming elections.
He also asked the Secretary Power & Energy Department and PHE to ensure uninterrupted Power and Water supply in the polling booths, Districts and State Election Commission office.
Dr. Kumar Bhandari, Secretary Health was asked to be prepared and up to date with emergency services for the forth coming elections.
Secretary, Information and Public Relations Department Mrs. C.C Wangdi during the meet was asked to ensure total videography of Election Process right from Nominations to the final result day, by the Commissioner.
Publicity through AIR in regional language was assigned to the official from AIR who was also present for the meet.
Road connectivity under the Municipal area should be intact and additional staff from Land Reforms cell to DCs of all four districts should be made, Mr. Gautam added.
Filing of nomination papers begins from today with the last date of filing nomination set for 16 September. Scrutiny of papers will take place on 17th of September and the last date for withdrawing nomination is 19th September 2015.
The election commission has completed all the formalities for conducting elections for all seven urban bodies, three in East - Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Singtam and Rangpo Nagar Panchayats, two in South - Namchi and Naya Bazaar-Jorethang Municipal Councils, Mangan Nagar Panchayat in North and Gyalshing Municipal Council in West district, the Commissioner informed.
Earlier Ambika Pradhan, Secretary SEC, started the meeting with a welcome note and later also drew curtains on the meet with her vote of thanks.
The seven urban bodies together have 71,534 voters [37,178 male and 34,356 female]. Gangtok Municipal Corporation is the biggest with 47,432 voters in its 17 wards. Mangan Nagar Panchayat has the lowest number of voters at 1,522.