Elaborate arrangements have been made to conduct free and fair elections for local bodies in the district. A total of 2.95 lakh voters were added to the electoral roll. Now, the total number of voters are 17,19,600 which is up from 14,24,050 voters in 2011, said Collector T.G. Vinay.
Talking to press persons here on Monday, he said election will be held in two phases on October 17 and 19. About 58 returning officers, 487 assistant returning officers, besides, 10,007 polling officials will be deployed for the first phase and 9,767 officials in the second phase.
Election will be held for seven unions, Kodaikanal and Oddanchatram municipalities, 11 town panchayats on October 17 and seven panchayat unions, Dindigul Corporation, Palani municipality and 11 town panchayats on October 19.
Around 6,741 ballot boxes will be used in rural areas and 1,670 electronic voting machines will be used in urban areas.
Filing of nomination is between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., till October 3. Scrutiny will begin at 10 a.m. on October 4. Withdrawal of nomination is on October 6.
Direct polling will be held for 3,819 posts including 3,333 posts in rural areas and 486 in urban areas.
Polling will be held for 23 district ward member posts, 232 panchayat union ward members, 2,772 ward members in 306 village panchayats and 38 corporation council members, 75 councillors in Oddanchatram, Palani and Kodaikanal municipalities and 363 councillors for 23 town panchayats.
Indirect election will be held for 336 posts including district panchayat president, district panchayat vice president, 14 panchayat union presidents, 14 panchayat union vice presidents, 306 vice presidents of village panchayat in rural areas and 54 posts including one corporation mayor, one deputy mayor, three municipal chairmen, three municipal vice-chairmen, 23 town panchayat chairmen and 23 panchayat vice-chairmen posts.
About 250 polling stations were identified as sensitive and 64 hyper sensitive in rural areas and 142 stations as sensitive and 52 as hyper sensitive in urban bodies. Additional force will be deployed in these stations, he added.
