CURATED BY – GANESH VAISHNAV | CITYCHIEFNEWS

Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh The model code of conduct has come into effect in Narayanpur district with the release of the program for the urban body elections and three-tier panchayat general elections 2025 by the State Election Commission on January 20, 2025. Additional Collector Birendra Bahadur Panchbhai gave detailed information about the election program by holding a meeting of political parties in the meeting room of the district office. The Additional Collector said that the voting for the urban body elections of the district will be conducted through EVMs on party basis and the three-tier panchayat elections will be conducted through ballot papers. Distribution and deposit of EVMs, VVPATs and other promotional material for the polling stations of the municipal area will be done in the Government Boys Higher Secondary School. Distribution of material for urban body elections will be done from the strong room. During the election, the work of voting in Narayanpur will be done by the officials. Additional Collector Panchbhai urged the political parties present to conduct activities within the ambit of the Model Code of Conduct and not to post any objectionable material on social media. Information was given about using photo documents for voting, in which documents like Aadhaar, PAN card, voter identity card, driving license will be necessary.

Nominations can be submitted for urban bodies from 22 to 28 January and nomination scrutiny will be done on 29 January. Candidates can withdraw their names on 31 January. Voting will be held in urban bodies on 11 February and the result will be declared on 15 February. Similarly, nominations for three-tier panchayat elections can be submitted from 27 to 03 February. Nomination papers will be scrutinized on 04 February. Candidates will be able to withdraw their names on 06 February. Voting for three-tier panchayat elections in the district will be held in the first phase on 17 February and in the second phase on 23 February, counting of votes for this will be done on 18 and 24 February. It is mandatory for the Municipal Body Councillor to be above 21 years of age and for the Chairman to be above 25 years of age. Similarly, it is mandatory for the Sarpanch and Panch to be above 21 years of age.

It is prohibited to use or get loudspeakers used in the entire area of ​​Narayanpur district from 10 pm to 6 am. The use of loudspeakers for campaigning on vehicles and in election meetings where elections are to be held can be done only after the permission of the competent officer from 6 am to 10 pm. But such loudspeakers will be of ordinary size and will be used only at medium volume. Keeping in view the public peace, the use of long-necked loudspeakers is completely prohibited. Installing more than one loudspeaker in groups in vehicles and election meetings is also prohibited. It will be mandatory to obtain written prior permission from the competent authority before use. Also, the permission holder will ensure that the Motor Vehicle Act is not violated. In all areas under Narayanpur district, the use of loudspeakers can be generally done from 6 am to 10 pm after obtaining permission from the competent authority, but the use of loudspeakers within a distance of 200 meters from educational institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, court premises, government offices, hostels, Municipal Council, District Panchayat and any other local body offices, banks, post offices, telephone exchanges etc. is completely banned even in normal circumstances.

No political party or candidate shall take out an armed procession or distribute objectionable posters. No person or group of persons shall hold any meeting, rally or procession or stage any dharna without the permission of the competent authority. This order shall not apply to those government officials and employees who are required to carry a lathi or weapon to carry out their duties. This order shall also not apply to those government employees who have been appointed as police officers to maintain law and order during elections and voting. This order shall also not apply to those persons who are required to carry a lathi as support due to physical weakness, old age and lameness. Any person or party violating the order shall be punishable under the Indian Civil Defence Code, 2023. Under Section 17 Sub-section (3) Sub-Clause (B), Section-21 of Arms Act 1959, the firearm licensees in the district boundary area have been directed to deposit their firearms in the nearest police station within 07 days. Apart from this, the licensees can deposit their arms with the arms dealer of Narayanpur city, who has the license to deposit arms. The person who deposits the arms with the arms dealer will also provide information about him to the concerned police station so that there is no atmosphere of fear and terror during the election process and misuse of these arms can be prevented. The concerned arms dealer will prepare station-wise information and submit it to the concerned police station and the District Magistrate's office. This order will also be applicable to all the licensees residing in the district and the licensees coming from outside the district. All the licensees will be able to get their arms back after the end of the code of conduct. Bharatiya Janata Party representatives Sandhya Pawar, Narendra Mishram, Indra Prasad Baghel, Indian National Congress representatives Sanjay Rai, Jai Vatti, Vijay Salam, Additional SP Sushil Kumar Nayak, SDM Gautam Patil, Deputy Collector Dr. Sumit Garg and other public representatives were present in the meeting.