Kolhapur: Preparation for the upcoming by-election Kolhapur North Assembly Constituency – The seat that fell vacant after the demise of the incumbent Congress MLA Chandrakant Jadhavi – Has started.
The first level checking of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, 1,000 each, has been started by the Election Department of Kolhapur District Administration. The Election Commission of India had written a letter to the administration asking them to start preparations and get the machines checked at the first level. The administration got machines from the Solapur district administration, which were used for last year’s Pandharpur-Mangalvedha assembly by-election.
Kolhapur Deputy Election Officer Bhagwan Kamble said, “The first level of investigation involves technical testing of machines. 15 engineers from Bharat Electronics, Bengaluru have arrived to conduct technical checks. Checks mainly include ensuring that the machines are working properly. We have invited the representatives of political parties to see the first level of inquiry conducted to ensure transparency. The work will be completed in a week.”
The commission may announce the election soon. As per the rules, a by-election has to be held and a new MLA has to be elected within six months of the seat becoming vacant.
Jadhav died in the first week of December and since then the assembly seat won by the Congress for the first time in recent times is vacant. The election of the new MLA is to be held before May 2. The model code of conduct for the elections is likely to come into force from next month.
Kamble said that the second level of verification of various units of the Electronic Voting Machines is done before the actual polling. ,
The first level checking of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, 1,000 each, has been started by the Election Department of Kolhapur District Administration. The Election Commission of India had written a letter to the administration asking them to start preparations and get the machines checked at the first level. The administration got machines from the Solapur district administration, which were used for last year’s Pandharpur-Mangalvedha assembly by-election.
Kolhapur Deputy Election Officer Bhagwan Kamble said, “The first level of investigation involves technical testing of machines. 15 engineers from Bharat Electronics, Bengaluru have arrived to conduct technical checks. Checks mainly include ensuring that the machines are working properly. We have invited the representatives of political parties to see the first level of inquiry conducted to ensure transparency. The work will be completed in a week.”
The commission may announce the election soon. As per the rules, a by-election has to be held and a new MLA has to be elected within six months of the seat becoming vacant.
Jadhav died in the first week of December and since then the assembly seat won by the Congress for the first time in recent times is vacant. The election of the new MLA is to be held before May 2. The model code of conduct for the elections is likely to come into force from next month.
Kamble said that the second level of verification of various units of the Electronic Voting Machines is done before the actual polling. ,
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