Applicants queue up to collect nomination forms for the municipal elections, at the collectorate in Patna on Monday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, April 16: The state election commission today issued notification for polling to be held in 114 urban local bodies across Bihar on May 16. By doing so, the poll panel enforced the model code of conduct as part of powers vested by Section 441 of Bihar Municipal Act, 2007.

The filing of nomination by candidates also began today. Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh said three nominations were filed in the district — one each for Patna Municipal Corporation, Danapur Nizamat Municipal Council and Phulwarisharif Municipal Council

The Telegraph, which spoke to joint election commissioner Ahibhushan Pandey, gives the low-down on the process to be undertaken for the Bihar municipal election, 2012.

Q) Why is the municipal election being held now?

The tenure of the ward councillors in all urban local bodies across the state covered by the Bihar Municipal Act, 2007 would be over in May 2012. The coming civic polls would elect new ward councillors for all urban local bodies. They would be in office for the next five years.

Q) Numbers game:

The state has altogether 114 urban local bodies that are further categorised as

1: Municipal corporation- 7

2: Municipal council- 38

3: Nagar panchayat- 69

Q) How is the voters’ list for various wards prepared?

The voters’ list for the civic election is based on the electoral roll prepared for the state Legislative Assembly. The list of voters choosing their representative in the Assembly is segregated into ward-wise lists of voters as one councillor is to be elected from each ward.

Q) Who can vote in civic election?

Anybody whose name figures in the voters’ list for civic election prepared by the state election commission. One can check his or her name in the list on the poll panel’s website, www. secbihar.org.

Q) How many people would cast votes in the civic polls?

About 60 lakh

Q) How many councillors would be elected across the state?

2,760 councillors will be elected from 364 municipal corporations wards, 1,196 municipal council wards and 1,200 nagar panchayat wards.

Q) What does the model code of conduct mean and what would be its impact?

For nominees/candidates: Candidates can campaign for the coming elections, but they are not allowed to use posters and banners on government or private buildings or even in their own houses or vehicles. Besides, any candidate found indulging in character assassination or offering bribe in any form — cash or kind or wine or taking out procession without prior administrative approval — would be liable for prosecution under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

For other elected repress-entatives, MLAs/MLCs: If any MLA or MLC makes a visit to his/her constituency till the time the model code of conduct is in effect, it has to be confined to official purpose only. Otherwise, they would be liable to be prosecuted under provisions of IPC.

For development plans: Work on new municipal development plans would not be executed except for those that are already under way. This implies that work cannot be executed for even the plans that have been sanctioned but execution is yet to start.

For voters: Voters are expected to be unbiased while exercising their democratic franchise.

Q) What are the important dates ahead of the civic polls?

Filing of nominations: April 16 to 24

Scrutiny of application: April 25- 26

Last date of withdrawing nominations: April 29

Allotment of electoral symbols: May 2

Polling date: May 16

Counting and declaration of results: May 18

TT suggests

Civic bodies are involved in almost all aspects of our daily lives — drinking water supply, garbage collection, waste water management, road repair, provision of recreation opportunities like parks among others. By voting, you are electing ward councillors, who would use public money for benefit of the public by providing civic services and amenities.

Civic election takes place once in five years. Make sure the right people are elected.