Ensure smooth conduct of civic polls, officials told in Eluru

Eluru: District Collector R Muthyala Raju has directed the RDOs, Tahsildars and other officials to conduct elections to the ZPTC, MPTC, municipality and village panchayat without giving room for any controversy.

The District Collector convened a videoconference with the officials and directed them to stay on duty on all the 21 days left for the polls. No official should be allowed to take leaves or permissions during this period, he added. They must report to duty without fail, the Collector ordered.

Collector Raju warned officials of stern action if they show any negligence in discharging duties. He asked the officials to issue caste certificates to candidates of reserved category on the same day of their applying for the same. Apart from voters list, the officials should keep ready with themselves the list of symbols.

The District Collector informed that 15 nodal officers have been assigned the duty of conducting the polls on various aspects. It is the duty of the officials to keep ready sufficient number of ballot boxes, he added. He said that they should either repair the bad ones or get new ballot boxes in advance.

Stating that ballot papers should be printed in the stipulated time, Collector Raju asked them to provide details of printing presses in the mandals concerned. An official would be deputed at the ballot papers printing press. The officials should also take care of facilities in polling centres, he ordered.