NAMCHI, September 9: The South District headquarters is all set for the 11-Namchi-Singithang bye-election scheduled for tomorrow.
Addressing a press conference here at his office today, the District Collector South, AK Singh who is also the Returning Officer (RO) said the District is ready to face any kind of untoward incidences if any in the constituency.
He said that the polling materials have been dispatched to the presiding and polling officers and these officers have departed for their respective polling stations who were briefed by the Central Observer and the Returning Officer prior to their departure. Two Sector Magistrates SDM Rabongla Dushyant Pariyar and SDM Namchi Annapoorna Alley have been deputed for the polling stations. They have been specially directed to observe the sensitive booths, the RO informed.
In the meantime, three special in-charges have also been deputed to report any uncommon happenings in these declared sensitive booths. Rural Development Assistants (RDAs) have also been assigned in each polling stations till the end of polling procedure to take care of the shortcomings if in case, Mr. Singh said.
Keeping in mind the prevailing weather condition, the RO informed that Route In-charge along with one special Quick Response Team (QRT) has been deployed in clearing the road blockages as well as to give the updates on road conditions in order to guide the polling parties to reach safely to their respective stations. The Chief Election Officer (CEO) CP Dhakal has been deputed from the Election Commission to this constituency till the end of the election process.
Responding to the plea of nominated candidate of INC regarding the unavailability of polling agents in four stations from his party, the RO said that the Sector Magistrates as well as the micro observers shall be directed to observe the polling procedures in these stations. The control room has been established to address any kind of complaints, queries and other poll related issues. He added that Tinzir and Mickhola have been declared as sensitive polling stations for which the arrangements have been made while for Singtam (South Sikkim) special arrangements have been made due to the distance as it is far off compared to other polling stations. All the schools which fall under Namchi-Singithang will also be closed on the polling day and the voters of the said constituency has been granted holiday.
The DC further informed that the media would be involved as much to maintain transparency in the bye-election and they would also be provided with all the facilities as required.
On the polling day prior to the actual polling time mock poll will be carried in the presence of the party candidates or the polling agents, sector magistrates and the presiding officer, he said. This, he added will be done in order to clear the doubts of the contesting candidates. The mock poll will start from 6am and the candidates will be allowed to cast their mock poll more than ten times for their satisfaction, the RO further said
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