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Tandon satisfied with poll preparations in Pondy

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, FEB. 24. The Election Commissioner, B.B. Tandon, today lauded the Pondicherry Administration for issuing electors photo identity cards to all 6.36 lakh voters.

Addressing a press conference at the end of his two-day visit to Pondicherry, Mr. Tandon said

the voters' strength was 65 per cent of the total population of Pondicherry and this conformed to the national average. Expressing satisfaction over the full preparedness for the poll, Mr. Tandon said he was confident that there would be a free, fair and peaceful polling. He had discussions with representatives of national and State-level parties on poll arrangements yesterday.

To a plea that the polling in Pondicherry and Karaikal should be held simultaneously along with Tamil Nadu and in Mahe and Yanam with Kerala and Andhra Pradesh respectively, he said "we will give due consideration to the maximum extent possible to club the dates with neighbouring States.He said he had discussions with the Chief Secretary, R. Padmanabhan, the Inspector General of Police, U.K. Katna, the Chief Electoral Officer, Chetan B. Sanghi, the Returning Officer, V. Candavelou, and also all assistant returning officers on poll arrangements.

Eight touch-screen kiosks would be set up in Pondicherry and its outlying regions. Pondicherry was next to Kerala in having the kiosks. Nine helplines would also be formed in Pondicherry and its outlying regions seven days before the poll to enable voters to know about location of booths and other poll-related matters. Candidates should file affidavits along with nomination papers. The candidate should also mention whether there was any criminal record against him. The Returning Officer and the Assistant Returning Officer would display the details outside the premises. Non-filing of the affidavit would entail rejection of papers.

The poll expenditure for the candidate in Pondicherry was Rs. 20 lakhs. The parties and candidates should strictly follow the model code of conduct, Mr. Tandon said. Electronic Voting Machines would be used.

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