Vizianagaram district collector S.Ramsundar Reddy said that the administration was fully geared up to hold local body elections for which the State Election Commission is expected to give notification in a couple of days. He said that the data of sensitive and hypersensitive villages were being collected to take remedial measures and ensure free and fair polls in those areas in association with the police department.
Speaking to The Hindu in Vizianagaram, he said that the polling booths where a particular candidate got more than 75% of the votes would be designated as sensitive areas. He said that such data would enable the polling officers to prevent possible malpractices in the elections. He said that he had an initial review meeting with Superintendent of Police A.R. Damodar and other senior officials.
“We have already made arrangements for ballot boxes and ballot papers. The suggestions from senior officials were being taken for the effective administration of the elections starting from filing of nominations, withdrawals and conducting of polls as per the schedule of the Commission,” Mr.Ramsundar Reddy added.
According to him, Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation has also been making arrangements for the election of mayor and 62 corporators in the district headquarters. The election will be held for Nellimarla, Rajam Nagara Panchayats, 27 Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies and Mandala Parishad Territorial constituencies. The elections will be held with party symbols but elections for sarpanches will be held without party symbols.
