Chandigarh: Haryana is set to vote on Sunday in elections for seven urban local bodies, including the municipal corporations of Panchkula, Sonipat, and Ambala, with over 8.7 lakh electors eligible to cast their votes. Polling will also be held for the municipal council of Rewari and the municipal committees of Uklana, Dharuhera, and Sampla.
A total of 18 candidates are contesting for the posts of mayor in the three municipal corporations, while 284 candidates are vying for corporator posts across 134 wards. In addition to the civic polls, the State Election Commission will also conduct by-elections at several other locations.
In the Rewari municipal council, six candidates are contesting for the post of president, and 155 are in the fray for councillor positions. Similar contests will take place in the remaining three municipal committees.
The elections will be conducted using electronic voting machines (EVMs) without VVPAT slips. While voters will have the option to choose NOTA, it will not be treated as a candidate.
Arrangements for Fair Elections
Haryana's state election commissioner, Devender Kalyan, stated on Saturday that elaborate arrangements have been made. The concerned district election officers and returning officers have issued guidelines to ensure fair elections. The authorities on Saturday dispatched polling parties to all 926 polling booths across the seven bodies.
"This time, we have also directed the deputy commissioners to appoint micro observers at the polling booths for the validation of voters and their identities. For the first time, voter slips have reached the voters ahead of the election. And, most importantly, we have made special arrangements for the differently abled, aged, and voters with special needs," said Kalyan.
"We have asked the DCs and police officials to ensure peaceful elections, and elaborate security arrangements have been made in accordance with the category of booths. Additional spruced-up measures have been taken on sensitive and hyper-sensitive booths as well," added Kalyan.
Polling Preparations
Meanwhile, polling parties reached their respective booths and completed preparatory arrangements on Saturday. The voting system will be installed early Sunday morning to ensure polling begins at 8 am. Live polling updates will be displayed on the dashboard.
