Arrangements for first phase civic polls completed

Pondicherry, June 20 (UNI) All arrangements for the first phase of civic polls in the Union Territory of Pondicherry on June 24 have been completed.

Civic polls in the Union Territory of Pondicherry was being held after a gap of 38 years. Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam municipalities go to polls on June 24 in the first phase.

Elections to the post of municipal chairman and councillor and the commune panchayat council member would be held on party basis. A voter belonging to municipality will have to cast two votes to elect municipal chairman and councillor and a voter belonging to panchayat will have to cast three votes for the election of commune panchayat council member, president of village panchayat and village panchayat members.

Ballot papers would be used in the elections due to the non- availability of adequate Electronic Voting Machines(EVM) State Election Commission sources said.

Ballot papers were printed and despatched to the respective regions. Adequate security measures were being taken up and one company of Indian reserve Battalion has been despatched to the three regions to maintain law and order during the elections.

About 100 anti-social elements were taken into preventive custody, police sources said.

Pondicherry and Ozhukarai municipality besides Villianur commune panchayat in Pondicherry region will go to polls in the second phase on June 27 and elections to four commune panchayats in Pondicherry region will be held on July one in the third and final phase.

The counting of votes will be held on July three in the respective regions.

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