Kalanwali civic poll today; EVMs dispatched, employees deployed
The municipal elections in Kalanwali, Sirsa district, are set to take place on Sunday, with all preparations now complete. On Saturday, polling parties were dispatched from Ambedkar Bhawan at Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU), Sirsa, carrying Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and other election materials. Returning Officer and SDM Mohit Kumar, along with Assistant Returning Officers Shubham Sharma and Kunwar Deep Singh, were present during the dispatch.
Elections will be held for the post of Chairperson and for 16 ward members. Voting will begin at 8 am on Sunday and continue until 6 pm. Counting of votes is scheduled for June 30 at Ambedkar Bhawan, CDLU. A total of 80 staff members have been deployed to manage the voting process.
According to Returning Officer Mohit Kumar, extensive arrangements have been made to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election. Seventeen polling stations have been set up for the 16 wards, with 17 polling parties formed and three additional reserve teams kept on standby. Around 80 officials will manage the stations. Additional Deputy Commissioner Virender Sehrawat has been appointed as the election observer, while two duty magistrates have been deployed to ensure smooth operations.
A total of 31 EVMs, including reserves, will be used. Kalanwali has 16,161 registered voters, comprising 8,550 men and 7,611 women. For the Chairperson’s post, 11 candidates — including NOTA (None of the Above) — are in the fray. For the 16 ward member positions, 41 candidates are contesting, with consensus candidates already declared in wards 12 and 15. Voters have been urged to exercise their franchise, with authorities assuring that all necessary steps have been taken for a secure and hassle-free polling experience.
To maintain law and order during the election, District Magistrate Shantanu Sharma has enforced a ban on the setting up of any election booths or camps within 200 metres of polling stations. Only voters, election officials, candidates and authorised personnel will be permitted inside polling booths.
A triangular contest has emerged between the Congress, BJP and INLD. The official election campaign concluded at 5 pm on Friday and the streets of Kalanwali have since fallen quiet following weeks of fervent canvassing. On Saturday, candidates continued door-to-door visits, urging voters to participate in Sunday’s election. Results will be announced on June 30, determining the city’s new Chairperson and ward members. In the run-up to the polls, political temperatures ran high in Kalanwali, with the Congress, BJP, INLD and independent candidates campaigning vigorously. Prominent leaders, including ministers, MPs and former MLAs, were seen on the campaign trail. The final verdict now lies with the electorate, with hopes pinned on improvements in infrastructure, drainage, cleanliness, electricity supply and transparent governance.
The race for the Chairperson’s position is particularly intense, with Congress-backed Mahesh Jhorar, BJP’s Sunil Garg alias Tishu Pradhan, and INLD-supported Ajeev Kumar emerging as the key contenders. Voters now await the outcome that will define Kalanwali’s civic future.
Haryana Tribune