PRESS RELEASE

21-06-2006

CIVIC ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN ENDS TODAY

Karaikal : The Campaign process for the Civic Elections in 5 Commune Panchayats and Karaikal Municipality scheduled to be held on 24^th June 2006 will end today (22-06-2006) at 5.00 P.M. All the elections arrangements in the District have been completed and voting will start at 7.00 A.M on Saturday the 24^th June 2006 in all the 255 booths in the District.

The District Election Officer – cum – Collector, Karaikal undertook extensive review arrangements regarding poll preparedness in a meeting held today in the Chamber of the Collector. All the Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Commissioners of Commune Panchayats and Election Observer have attended the meeting.

The minimum facilities like water, toilet, sanitation, electricity have been provided in all the booths. The excise check post bordering the District will be sealed to prevent flow of liquor on pre / poll day. The adjoining District Collectors of Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur have also been requested to declare dry days from 22^nd June 2006 evening to 24^th June 2006 to effectively implement dry days in the Karaikal District. A request to this effect have been sent by the Chief Secretary, Pondicherry to the Chief Secretary, Tamilnadu. The training of polling Officials have also been completed. The training for the Police personnel are being conducted on 21^st and 22^nd June 2006 in the District.

The Government has declared public holiday on 24^th June 2006 for all establishment including State / Cenral Government offices, Public undertaking / Business establishment on account of the poll day. In addition to it, the Directorate of Education has issued orders declaring holidays on 22^nd and 23^rd June 2006 in Karaikal for all educational institutions both Government and Privately managed in view of poll arrangements

There will be restrictions on movement of vehicles on the poll day in the District other than essential services and poll related vehicles.

The maximum number of candidates contesting in one single ward in Karaikal is Pulliankottai salai where 19 candidates are in the fray and least number of candidates contesting for Councillors post in Karaikal Municipality is Anthoniar Koil where R.Maheswary of D.M.D.K and S.Chandra of D.M.K are facing each other.

The ballot papers for the election of Village Ward Member and Village Panchayat President which are being contested on non party lines will have only the election symbol printed on it, not the name of the contesting candidates.

DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER –

CUM - COLLECTOR

KARAIKAL