Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Panchayat elections in Odisha, the State Election Commission (SEC) on Thursday asked all district Collectors to issue sound and vehicle (use) permits to the candidates contesting the elections for the purpose of campaigning.
In the letter, issued by the Secretary to SEC, RN Sahu, stated that several contesting candidates have filed complaints with the Commission’s office regarding the inconvenience faced by them while obtaining sound permission (for use of loudspeaker/mikes) and use of vehicles for canvassing.
“The SEC has directed the Collectors to issue sound permission to the candidates in the fray for election campaigning purposes only. Apart from the concerned Sub-Collectors, all Tehsildars in the district will be authorised to issue such permits,” the letter read.
It further said that DCPs, in case of the Blocks coming under the Commissionerate of Police, may also issue such permissions.
“The permission for use of vehicles by the contesting candidates for Sarpanch and Panchayat Samiti member will be issued by the concerned BDO, while for Zilla Parishad member, the Sub-Collector concerned is the competent authority. The instructions released by the Secretary to SEC are for immediate compliance,” the letter further read.
