Sri Vijaya Puram, April 30: The Andaman State Cooperative Union has released its election schedule, setting May 16 as the polling date and outlining a tightly regulated process for nominations, scrutiny and voting.
Returning Officer K.P. Abubakar announced the schedule during a press briefing, stating that the election notification has already been issued and circulated across print and digital platforms. He said the entire process will be conducted in accordance with administrative norms and the bylaws governing cooperative bodies.
The decision to hold elections was taken at a committee meeting on March 23, in line with the provision that office bearers serve a tenure of two years. Officials indicated that the upcoming election will determine the next leadership of the union.
Nomination forms will be issued on May 5 and 6 at the Union Office between 10:00 am and 12:30 pm. Candidates are required to collect and submit their nomination papers in person within the specified time window. Authorities clarified that no submissions will be accepted beyond the deadline.
Scrutiny of nominations is scheduled for May 9 between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm. During this period, objections, if any, can be filed in writing. The list of valid candidates will be published at 12:30 pm on the same day.
The process for withdrawal of nominations will conclude ahead of the publication of the final list of candidates, which is set to be released on May 11 at 12:30 pm.
To facilitate broader participation, the union has introduced provisions for postal voting. Voters who are unable to attend the polling venue can appoint a proxy by submitting a declaration along with identity proof, including Aadhaar details, in advance. Postal voting will be conducted on May 14 and 15 between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm.
Polling will take place on May 16 at Hotel Lemon Tree, Vijayapuram, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am through a secret ballot system. Counting of votes will begin at 12:00 noon, with results scheduled to be declared at 12:30 pm on the same day.
Abubakar emphasized adherence to the notified schedule, stating that delays or deviations will not be permitted at any stage of the process. He also reiterated that the election will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
Officials expressed confidence that the electoral process will lead to the selection of a new leadership team capable of guiding the union’s future activities and development.
