With the notification, the nomination process for the Lok Sabha elections has commenced. Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Yash Garg stated that in accordance with the directives of the Election Commission of India, the notification was issued on April 29 as per the schedule released by the Returning Officer for the Lok Sabha General Elections-2024. With the notification, the nomination process has begun. Nomination for the Ambala Lok Sabha constituency will be with the RO in Ambala.
DC and District Election Officer Garg mentioned that the 01-Kalka assembly constituency and 02-Panchkula assembly constituency of the district fall within the Ambala Lok Sabha constituency. Notification for the Lok Sabha elections was issued on Monday, April 29th, and nominations can be filed by candidates from today until Monday, May 6th.
He further stated that scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on Tuesday, May 7th, while candidates will have the opportunity to withdraw their nominations until Thursday, May 9th. Voting is scheduled for May 25th, with results being declared after counting on Tuesday, June 4th.
The District Election Officer explained that if a candidate wishes to file a nomination online, they must fill out the online form on the Suvidha App and submit its hard copy to the respective RO. All candidates contesting elections are required to have their expenditure registers checked at least three times during the election campaign. All political parties/election contesting candidates should ensure that any banners, posters, etc., printed during the election campaign include details of the person printing them along with the name and address of the printing press.
Disregard for these guidelines will result in action as per the Commission’s guidelines.
Yash Garg mentioned that nomination papers can be submitted by the candidate or any of their proposers from 11 am to 3 pm. A maximum of three vehicles will be allowed for a candidate when submitting nomination papers, and the vehicles must be parked within a 100-meter radius of the office. Additionally, only a maximum of 5 persons, including the candidate, will be allowed to enter the RO office. The nomination process will be videographed, with videography of the last hour of filing nomination done continuously without editing. The presiding officer will securely keep the videography and all documents.
The District Election Officer clarified that under the Representation of the People Act 1951, candidates contesting elections must deposit security. The amount for Lok Sabha elections is Rs 25 thousand. For Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates, this amount is halved. The security amount must be deposited before the Returning Officer either in cash or in the Reserve Bank of India or Treasury. Payment via check or bank draft is not acceptable. Recognized national or recognized political parties require one proposer, while all other candidates and recognized political parties from other states need 10 proposers. The proposer must be a voter of the concerned Lok Sabha and Assembly constituency.
Yash Garg emphasized that candidates contesting elections must open a separate bank account before nomination, and election-related expenses will only be incurred through this account. Instructions have been given to all banks to provide separate counters for opening accounts for candidates contesting elections. A single window has been set up at the district and ARO levels to grant permission to all political parties/election contesting candidates for rallies/public meetings, loudspeakers, and vehicles, etc. Permission is mandatory for these activities, and action will be taken against anyone found campaigning without permission. No political party/candidate contesting elections can use a loudspeaker from 10 pm to 6 am. All election contesting candidates must submit the expenditure register within 30 days of the declaration of election results