Arrangements complete for phase II civic polls

Pondicherry, Jun 26 (UNI) All arrangements are in place for the second phase of the local body elections in Pondicherry tomorrow.

Elections to the Pondicherry and Ozhukarai Municipalities and Villianur Commune Panchayat will be held during this phase. The polling will begin at 0700 hrs and end at 1700 hrs.

About three lakh voters will decide the fate of 1,104 candidates, including ten, for the post of chairmen of the two municipalities.

As many as 2,000 police personnel, including Rapid Action Force and Indian Reserve Battalion, will be on election duty.

Authorities had identified sensitive polling stations and extra security was being provided to maintain law and order during the elections.

The post of Pondicherry Municipal Chairman had been earmarked for women following which the DMK fielded Dr Sreedevi as the Democratic Progressive Alliance candidate.

The AIADMK had fielded Ms Tamizhselvi, wife of MLA Om Sakthi Segar, against Dr Sreedevi.

Former Minister Renuka Appadurai, who recently defected to the PMC from DMK, is the PMC candidate.

Candidates of the Congress, AIADMK, PMC and CPM besides three independents are fighting it out for the post of Ozhukarai Municipal Chairman.

Elections to four commune panchayats in Pondicherry region will be held in the third and final phase on July one. The counting of votes will take place on July three.

UNI PAB VA DS1128