Chennai: Today is the last day to file nominations to contest in the rural local body elections to be held in nine districts of Tamilnadu.
According to sources, over 65,000 have filed their papers so far and a last minute rush was today witnessed to submit nominations. Scrutity of nominations will be held tomorrow.
Recently, taking a serious note of media reports which alleged that civic head posts are being auctioned in some parts of the State ahead of the local body polls in nine districts, the State Election Commission issued a stern warning against such acts.
In a statement, the SEC said such anti-democratic activities will not be allowed and strict action will be taken against those indulged in this.
It also said necessary action will be taken to fill all civic posts only through polls. With the State Election Commission announcing recently that the rural local body polls in the nine newly created districts will be held in two phases on 6 and 9 October, Tamilnadu has entered poll mode.
The model code of conduct came into effect in these nine districts with the announcement of the polls. The counting of votes will take place on 12 October, State Election Commissioner V Palanikumar announced.
Polling will be held from 7 am to 6 pm with the last hour â 5 pm to 6 pm â reserved for Covid-19 patients and patients with symptoms of the viral infection.
Palanikumar said the code of conduct came into immediate effect in the districts of Kancheepuram, Chengalpet, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi where the polls would be held. In 28 other districts, elections would be held on 9 October for 789 posts in the local bodies, which are lying vacant, said the State Election Commissioner.
A total of 76,59,720 voters would exercise their franchise in the two phase polls. As many as 1.10 lakh government employees would be engaged in poll duty. The commission would engage an IAS officer as election observer for each district.