Itanagar: State Election Commission (SEC) has announced to airlift men and material to remote and inaccessible parts of the state for holding the three-tier panchayati raj election on May 16 in Arunachal Pradesh.
The SEC had announced the date for holding the Panchayat election along with maiden municipal elections for Itanagar and Pasighat townships on April 1.
The commission has already requisitioned MI-17 chopper services from IAF for transporting men and election equipment to the remote areas in the state like Tali, Pipsorang, Vijoynagar and other inaccessible parts of the state from tomorrow if the weather permits, according to SEC office sources informed.
However, sending of poll materials to other areas and printing of ballot papers mostly have been completed, sources added.
About 6,19,741-strong electorate, including 2,27,031 female will exercise their franchise in 1,849 polling stations in all 17 districts of the state to decide the fate of 5438 GPC, 1323 ASC (GP) and 161 ZPC members in the state.
The total seats in the three-tier Panchayat institutions in the state are – GPC-7403, ASC-1785 and ZPC-177.
However, according to available reports received from 12 districts, so far 16-ZPMs, 1462-ASMs and 2965-GPM have been elected uncontested, sources informed.
However, for holding first ever municipal elections in Itanagar and Pasighat – a total number of 60,763 voters will cast ballots for 29 wards in Itanagar Township, while 9,683 voters will elect 10 ward commissioners in Pasighat, SEC sources informed.
There were 30 wards in Itanagar and 12 in Pasighat, while, one candidate from Itanagar and 2 from Pasighat have been declared winners uncontested.
A total of 78 candidates in 21 wards in Itanagar and 24 for 10 wards in Pasighat are in the fray to decide their luck for the municipal election in this landlocked backward state.
All the electioneering preparations have been completed and the commission hoped for a free, fair and violence free election. UNI