by-polls
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The Poll fever has gripped Lakhimpur district as the date for the Panchayat election is nearing up.

Aggressive campaign by candidates belonging to various political parties has marked the poll scenario in the district trying to earn voter’s support by any means.

High spending and use of money in distributing party tickets to aspiring candidates by all political parties are drawing public attention in the district.

There have been reports of alleged sale of party tickets to contesting candidates by all major political parties across the district. This has brewed resentment among party workers resulting in fraction and infighting within the political parties in various constituencies in Lakhimpur district.

Irregularities in reservation of constituencies for Gaon Panchayat polls also mark the preparedness to the election.  The No.10 Tarajuli Ward for Laluk GP is this time reserved for SC candidate though the constituency has only one SC voter.

Meanwhile the Lakhimpur district administration is all set to conduct smooth polling of the incoming Panchayat elections. The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the polls which are scheduled on 5th of December.

The district administration has appointed 14 Zonal Officers for ZPCs, 64 Sector Officers for GPs, 724 Presiding Officers and equal number of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Polling Officers totaling 3980 in the district for the Panchayat polls.

The district administration stated there are 2226 numbers of candidates in the fray of which 1778 are for the Gaon Panchayat Members (GPMs), 290 for Gaon Panchayat Presidents (GPPs), 192 for Anchalik Panchayat Members (APMs)and 47 for Zilla Parichad Members (ZPCs).

Seven candidates have already become uncontested and all of them belong to the Gaon Panchayat Member category. There are 14 constituencies for the ZPCs, 60 numbers for APMs, 60 numbers for GPPs and 600 GPMs in Lakhimpur district with 724 numbers of Polling Stations.

The total number of electorates in the poll are 577008 including 290124 males and 286884 females that will exercise their franchise on December 5 in Lakhimpur district.

According to the district administration in North Lakhimpur there are 46 Very Sensitive polling stations, 185 Sensitive polling stations and 493 Comparatively Safe polling stations in the district.

Training for polling personal has already been conducted on November 18 in five different venues in North Lakhimpur, Nowboicha and Bihpuria and two more are scheduled on November 25 and December 2.

Preparations have also been made for counting of the ballots on December 12 in North Lakhimpur.

Farhana Ahmed is Northeast Now Correspondent in North Lakhimpur. She can be reached at: [email protected]