Ahead of the local body polls in the state, the Kerala State Election Commission has directed that only KSRTC buses will be permitted for the transportation of staff for election duty. The commission said that only in the case of emergency, would private buses be allowed.
Due to the current pandemic, limited KSRTC buses are operating services. In this background, the Election Commission has observed to engage KSRTC buses that are not running.
Within a week, the maintenance works of non-operational KSRTC buses will be completed. Only for a few buses repair works were done following lockdown.
After receiving the order from the commission, DTOs in each KSRTC depot and sub depot are ordered to collect details of the available buses. Reportedly, in most districts, the survey for more information on available buses has started. It is believed that the survey will be completed in two days. Based on survey reports, the decision to permit KSRTC buses for election works will be decided, stressed by the State Election Commission’s officials.
Meanwhile, the time for distributing electronic voting machines and stamping the name of candidates has been decided. The district collectors will be distributing these machines to the districts on Wednesday and Thursday. On December 4 and 5, the candidates’ names and symbols will be stamped on the electronic voting machines.
Besides, the distribution of special ballots for nearly 24,000 people in the first list of special voters comprising Covid patients and those in quarantine will begin today. According to State Election Commissioner V Bhaskaran, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts, which go to polls on December 8, alone have 23,621 special voters. The Health Department prepared the list based on the assessment made on November 29.
