First phase of Pondy elections tomorrow

Pondicherry, June 23: Arrangements for the first-phase of civic polls, held after a gap of 38 years, in the Union Territory of Pondicherry have been made, State Election Commissioner R Narayana said today.

As many as 1,52,195 electorates will decide the fortune of over 962 candidates in the first of the three-phased elections.

Polls for Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam municipalities and other five commune panchayats will be held tomorrow.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Narayana said the electioneering, which came to an end yesterday for the first phase, was peaceful and all the political parties had co-operated with the Commission in this regard.

He hoped that the elections would also be peaceful.

''Sensitive polling booths in all the three regions are identified and an extra security has been posted to ensure law and order during the elections,''he noted.

Polling will start from 0700 hrs and end at 1700 hrs.

He said auxilary booths were established at some places to avoid rush.

Mr Narayana said about 350 police personnel, including 120 Rapid Action Force were deployed in Mahe region. While 500 officials were deployed in Karaikal, 150 were sent to Yanam region for election duty. No major violation of model code of conduct were reported, except a complaint of an Independent candidate distributing sarees, which was being investigated, he added.

About the complaint of distribution of free rice in Mahe region, he said it was permitted by the Commission since it was distributed only to the rain affected people.

While the AIADMK, PMC, CPI(M) and BJP were fighting the elections alone, the Congress went ahead with its alliance partners at the centre.

The main fight for the Karaikal muncipal chairman post would be between the DMK and AIADMK.

In Mahe, it would be between the Congress and CPI(M) and between the Congress and an independent in Yanam municipality.

The second-phase of polls for Pondicherry and Ozhukarai municipalities and Villianur commune panchayats will be on June 27 and the final phase for four commune panchayats in Pondicherry region will be on July two.

The counting of votes will begin on July three.

UNI