SEC to hold regional meets

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prior to the civic elections in September, the State Election Commission (SEC) will hold meetings of political parties at the regional level for resolving local issues.

This was decided at an all-party meeting held by the commission here on Thursday. The commission accepted the suggestion to hold regional meetings for resolving local issues so that the elections could be held without any hitch.

State Election Commissioner P. Kamalkutty told the meeting that District Collectors has been entrusted to settle the complaints about polling stations. The draw of lots for finalising the wards reserved for various sections would be conducted in a transparent manner. A rotation system would be followed in selecting the wards. The order for drawing the lots in each civic body would be Scheduled Tribe woman ward, Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste woman, Scheduled Caste and general category woman wards. Representatives of civic bodies and registered political parties would be invited for witnessing the process.

Electoral Registration Officers had been directed to accept complaints about the voters list till the publication of the final list on August 12. A State-level meeting of political parties would again be called before issuing the election notification.