Poll to recall public reps in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, June 16 (UNI) A total 67 per cent turnout was recorded in yesterday's polling to recall Durg district's Gundardehi and Navagarh and Sarguja district's Rampur nagar panchayat presidents and the results are to be declared tomorrow, State Election Commission (Panchayat and Local Bodies) sources said today.

The sources told UNI here that each ballot paper had only two symbols -- an empty chair and an occupied chair. If more than 50 per cent votes cast were in favour of the occupied chair then the panchayat president would continue in office.

Section 47 of the Chhattisgarh Municipalities Act 1961 lays down that the recall process may be initiated if three-fourths of a municipality's corporators or that fraction of a nagar panchayat's members inform the Collector, in writing, of no-confidence in the president after two years of the body's formation.

In these three cases, the collectors had the written complaints examined prior to sending reports to the state government.

UNI AS-AC PK RN1754