Preparations are under way for holding the local body election in the district as per the green protocol recommended by the State Election Commission (SEC) to minimise use of plastic material during the election campaign and on the polling day.
The district administration here has decided to strictly adhere to the protocol. Though government officials have been given strict direction by District Collector P. Bala Kiran that the protocol be complied with in all the election-related works, its compliance by parties is what will make it successful.
If past elections are any indication, political parties and their candidates may use flex boards and hoardings for their respective campaigns.
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At a meeting of political party leaders here on October 10, Mr. Kiran explained the plan to implement the protocol for the election. He also appealed for their co-operation to the plan being implemented in association with the Suchitwa Mission here. The plan outlined at the meeting includes deployment of two student volunteers with special uniforms inside each booth to ensure that the protocol is complied with. A total 5,000 such volunteers would be deployed for the task, he said adding that the students selected for the job are being given training. The green protocol is applicable to 12,000 government employees being posted for election duties and 7,500 police personnel being deployed for law and order duties on the polling day on November 2, he added. He also told the party representatives that plastic should be avoided as campaign materials within 100 metre radius of polling stations.