Nagpur is set to witness a meticulously organized counting process for its high-stakes municipal elections. The civic administration has finalized plans to count votes for the 151 seats across 38 prabhags at 10 different zone-level centres, aiming for maximum transparency and efficient management.
Administrative Preparations for a Smooth Election
Municipal Commissioner and Election Officer Abhijeet Chaudhari laid out the key arrangements in a meeting with political party representatives on Monday. The session, held at the NMC headquarters, was aimed at briefing functionaries on the procedures to ensure a free and fair election. Chaudhari confirmed that a total of 993 candidates are contesting in the fray, and all administrative preparations are complete.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Election) Nirbhay Jain detailed the logistical arrangements. Following the directives of the State Election Commission, the city will have 3,004 polling booths. All information regarding polling stations and candidate details has been uploaded to the official NMC website for public access.
Focus on Transparency and Voter Facilitation
The administration has introduced several measures to uphold the integrity of the electoral process. Officials have been appointed at the zonal level specifically to collect and scrutinize the expenditure records of all candidates. Contestants have been briefed on the proper formats and methods for submitting these financial details.
To streamline operations, a single-window system has been established at both zonal offices and the NMC headquarters for granting all election-related permissions. Furthermore, dedicated model code of conduct cells are now operational to address any violations promptly.
Voter convenience is a top priority. Every polling station will be equipped with necessary facilities, including wheelchairs for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. In a push to increase participation, the civic body is actively running awareness campaigns under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme.
Call for Cooperative Conduct
Commissioner Chaudhari urged all political parties to extend their full cooperation at every stage of the electoral process. The appeal emphasizes adherence to the guidelines set by the election commission to ensure the polling day and the subsequent counting proceed smoothly and without incident. The focus remains on conducting a civic election that is not only efficient but also beyond reproach.
