Raipur
There is a state of uncertainty over the proposed urban body elections in Raipur. After the Supreme Court’s direction, the state government formed the Backward Classes Commission, which is now conducting a survey of the backward classes. The survey process is to be completed by October 10, after which the data will be prepared. In such a situation, it will be clear by the second week of October when the elections will be held. However, the State Election Commission is preparing to conduct elections in December. If there is a delay in the survey data, it may affect the election programs. The State Election Commission is preparing the voter list for the body elections. This work has started from August 20. This work will be done till October 10. For this, BLOs are going door to door and verifying the voter list. This is the reason why the work of the Backward Classes Commission’s survey has also been given to BLOs. They have been given a form, in which important information related to the backward class is being collected. Along with this, BLOs have also been instructed that if they leak this information, then they will be held responsible.
In the year 2019, voting was held in a total of 151 urban bodies. This also included 10 municipal corporations of the state. Voting for these was held on 21 December and the results were announced on 24 December 2019. Mostly the date of the first meeting of the mayor is 5 or 6 January. It is necessary for the State Election Commission to conduct elections and release the results before this date. If for some reason the election is not held on time, then the body of the concerned bodies has to be dissolved and an administrator has to be appointed there. Last time, after the announcement of Risali Municipal Corporation, an administrator was appointed there. However, in case of appointment of an administrator, the general public may have to face some trouble.
There are many complications in this time’s urban body elections. As this time there is a discussion going on to hold urban body and panchayat elections together. Regarding this, the General Administration Department had also sought opinion from the general public. A decision on this is yet to be taken. Apart from this, urban body elections in the state were conducted using EVMs. The previous government had conducted elections using ballot papers. Apart from this, the right to elect a mayor was also taken back from the general public. After the change of government, there is a discussion of changes in both the processes, but a decision on this has not been taken yet.
