Busy Monday in store as poll body expects 2k nominations
NEW DELHI: After a nearly dry nomination period over the past week, the State Election Commission is expecting many more candidates to file their nomination papers on Monday for the MCD polls, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The nomination process was initiated on November 7 and November 14 is the last day for filing. Over the past week, the commission received 35 nominations, mostly from independent candidates and smaller political parties. A senior SEC (State Election Commission) official said the commission is expecting at least 2,000 nominations to be filed on deadline day.
“During the last MCD elections, more than 2,800 nominations were received. Since very few nominations have been received during the last seven days, we are expecting a very large volume of candidates to be rushing towards returning officers for filing papers on Monday and adequate arrangements have been made for such a situation,” a senior SEC official said.
According to the regulations fixed by the SEC, the timing of submission of nominations will be between 11am and 3pm at the office of the returning officer concerned. There are 68 returning officers, each covering 3-6 municipal wards.
On November 11, the deputy secretary office of the election commission wrote to all district election officers, deputy commissioners of police and returning officers to brace for “last hour rush”.
“As you are aware... no nomination papers will be received by returning officers on Saturday and Sunday. Now only Monday is left for receiving nominations. There is every possibility that a large number of persons may approach the respective returning officers. Therefore, adequate arrangements be made and all machineries to work in tandem to manage the last hour rush on the day and to ensure that the nomination process is not hampered in any way,” the communication said.
The SEC has also issued eightpoint guidelines to the returning officers to manage the rush by deploying additional manpower and equipment for handling nominations, earmarking parking facilities, ensuring sitting area/tentage and making arrangements for drinking water and toilets for the crowd.
Voting for the elections will be held on December 4.