CG: Ensure transparent, fair polls: Singh

RAIPUR,INDIA: State Election Commissioner, Chhattisgarh Ajay Singh held a review meeting at the Government Engineering College in Sejbahar with senior officials from Raipur district to discuss preparations for the upcoming urban body and three-tier panchayat elections in 2025. 

The meeting focused on the arrangements needed to ensure a smooth electoral process. Present at the meeting were State Election Commission Secretary Dr. Sarveshwar Narendra Bhure, Collector Dr. Gaurav Kumar Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police Lal Umaid Singh, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Abinash Mishra, District Panchayat CEO Vishwadeep, and Assistant Collector Anupama Anand.

Singh reviewed key aspects of the election process, including polling stations, EVM machine arrangements, election management, security, polling personnel availability, commissioning of EVM machines, and voter awareness campaigns. He emphasized the importance of conducting the election process with transparency and impartiality.

In this election, voters will cast two votes using the same EVM machine—one for the mayor/president and the other for the councilor. Singh instructed officials to run special awareness campaigns to educate voters about this process.

He stressed the need to strictly adhere to the model code of conduct and take immediate action against any violations. To ensure strong security during the polling process, he instructed the police and administration to work in coordination.

Singh also visited the strong room at the Government Engineering College and reviewed the distribution of polling materials and arrangements for counting. He provided detailed instructions regarding the security and other arrangements at the location.

Deputy District Election Officer Umashankar Bande informed that there are a total of 11,88,373 voters in the 11 urban bodies of Raipur district and 7,16,277 voters for the three-tier panchayat elections. The district will have 2,668 polling stations in total. Voting parties, sector officers, and commissioning teams have received training, with additional sessions scheduled for 9 February.

The State Election Commissioner emphasized that basic facilities should be provided at each polling station, with special provisions for disabled and senior citizens. He urged voters to actively participate in the democratic process by casting their votes.

Other officials present included Additional Collector and Returning Officer Keestant Singh Rathore, RTO Ashish Dewangan, Additional Collector Nidhi Sahu, Abhilasha Packra, Additional SP Vivek Shukla, Kirtan Rathore, and others.