BBMP Poll Schedule Announced: Election on March 28
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, Mar 6: Finally, after frequent delays and court battles, the calendar of events for holding the elections to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) or Greater Bangalore City Corporation Council has been announced.
The BBMP polls, as per the calendar of events announced by State Election Commissioner C R Chikmath on Saturday, will be held on March 28. Repoll, if necessary, will be conducted on April 4.
Counting of votes for the 198 corporation wards will be held on April 5 and the electoral process will be completed by April 6.
State Election Commissioner C R Chikmath
The notification for the polls will be issued on March 8. The filing of nominations will commence from March 9 and the last date for filing of nomination papers is March 15. The scrutiny will be done on March 17. The last day for withdrawal of nominations is March 19.
A total electorate of 66,17,379 comprising 34,80,268 men and 31,37,111 women will exercise their franchise in 6,590 polling stations.
With the removal of the last hurdle in announcing the calendar of events for BBMP polls, the stage is set for holding the elections over three years after the term of last elected corporation council expired in November 2006.
The model code of conduct for the polls will come into force from Sunday, March 7, which effectively restricts all official functions within the city corporation limits and prevents the ruling BJP and the government from making any announcements aimed at wooing or influencing the electorate.
The model code of conduct will be in operation till the date for completion of the electoral process on April 6.
A total number of 7,260 presiding officers and 21,773 polling officers have been appointed for the polls.
Eligible voters who cannot find their name in the voters list can submit their claim till 10 days before the last date for filing nominations.
To a query, Chikmath said voter details have already been put in the website
www.bbmpelections.info.
On Karnataka High Court directing the SEC to complete the election process by March 30, he said a submission in this regard had already been made to the High Court. ``We are hopeful that the high court will concede our request. We do not foresee any serious problems on this score,’’ he added.