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The district collectorate in Ranchi where candidates will submit their nomination papers
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The district administration will notify the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) elections on Tuesday and is making elaborate preparations at the collectorate to receive nomination papers from candidates from Day One.
Deputy commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, who is also Ranchi’s electoral officer for the civic polls, said that the district had deputed one returning officer for receiving nominations for the post of mayor and 11 returning officers for receiving the same from candidates vying for 55 ward commissioner seats.
“Preparations to receive nominations for the various posts are complete. Candidates can file their papers once the polls are notified on Tuesday,” Choubey said.
The district collectorate is expected to see frenetic activities from Tuesday, as the chambers of all returning officers are located there.
“We will wait for interested candidates to enter the poll fray,” said R.S. Verma, who has been deputed as the returning officer for the post of mayor, and is also the additional district magistrate of Ranchi.
This year, the mayor’s post is reserved for tribals, gender no bar.
Among the big names doing the rounds are Ranchi University professor Karma Oraon, retired IAS officer Vinod Kispotta and former journalist and Jharkhand Janadhikar Morcha president Ratan Tirkey. Incumbent mayor Rama Khalkho is also in the fray.
While election for the mayor’s post will be carried out through direct polling, elected ward commissioners will choose the deputy mayor from among themselves.
Sources in the RMC said only a handful of candidates were expected to file their nominations on the first day.
“I am busy arranging mandatory documents. I will not be able to file my nomination on Tuesday. I have planned to do so by March 14,” said Suman Devi, contesting for the post of councillor from ward No. 40 in Dhurwa.
Most contenders for the mayor’s post have, however, got their campaign dossier printed. “I have my election pamphlet ready. Not much time is left and I have to reach out to people across the city. I will be filing my nomination on March 18,” said Ratan Tirkey.
The last day for filing nominations is March 19.
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