Bhubaneswar: The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal has made all arrangements for smooth conduct of the crucial by-election to Jharsuguda Assembly segment on May 10.
Speaking to media persons here about the preparedness, CEO Shri Dhal said polling parties, EVMs, election materials, security arrangements – all are in place for the by-poll.
Polling parties pertaining to 227 out of 253 booths (mostly the rural and distant places) have been dispersed today from Engineering School, Jharsuguda. The remaining 26 polling parties for the pink booths will be dispersed tomorrow, he said.
A total of 1012 polling officers are deployed @ 4 per booth. About 96 polling officers (24 teams) have been kept reserve for deployment, if required. The polling officers have been duly trained and have been deployed after randomization, Dhal said.
Restriction has been imposed on election campaigns as the silent period comes into force from 6 PM on Monday.
Collector, SP and Returning Officer have been instructed to ensure that all political party workers, star campaigners and candidates who are not voters of Jharsuguda, do leave the constituency area during this period, he said, adding all community halls, guest houses, hotels are being checked thoroughly.
Similarly, restriction has also been imposed on sale of liquor in the district for 48 hours from 6 PM. Sale or distribution of liquors or the substances of similar nature in hotels, restaurants, shops or any other place are banned during this period.
All the EVMs to be used in the poll have been commissioned in presence of contesting candidates. In case there is any defective EVM or malfunctioning EVM comes to notice on the poll day, if needed, the EVM unit(s) will be replaced from the stock of reserve EVMs available.
Shri Dhal informed that voting is going to be held in 253 booths in 197 locations. About 2,21,719 voters are participating in the poll which consists of 1,10,619 males, 1,11,037 females and 63 transgenders and 249 service voters, 2534 PWD voters.
Braille dummy ballot papers have been made available with each presiding officer for helping visually challenged voters. Poll day being declared as a paid holiday for all the government employees as well as private employees who are voters in the constituency.
For transportation of PwD Voters from their houses to booth and back, 2539 Vahan passes have been issued, 118 auto rickshaws have been arranged.
As many as 40 model booths with facilities like ramps, temporary sheds, separate queues, drinking water, volunteers for PwD and Sr. Citizens etc. will be operating on the poll day. Similarly, 26 Pink booths especially in urban areas totally manned by trained lady polling officers will be opened.
Based upon the field inputs, 116 booths have been identified as critical booths in 69 locations. Special arrangement has been done for such booths, the CEO said.
In all 253 booths web casting has been planned. Apart from that, 69 Micro Observers will be deployed and extra CAPF deployment will be done in appropriate locations. Political party have also given their worry list. Accordingly, the deployment has been planned.
He said a total of 1814 police personnel (including 155 police officers, 17 platoon of armed police, 323 havildars/constables and 205 home guards) and seven companies of CAPF are being deployed for the poll. The CAPF are being deployed in 144 booths.
In a precautionary measure, 171 licensed arms have been deposited in concerned police stations. About 1903 persons have been booked under preventive sections of 107 & 116 Cr. P.C. 112 Non bailable warrants have been executed.
About 7468.93 litres of liquor has been seized which is valued at Rs 7,75,345, cash seizure of Rs 2lakh and gift & others valued Rs.3.48 lakhs which comes to total of Rs.13.24 lakh.
Till now, 12 complaints on violation of model code of conduct have been received from political parties which were sent to DEO for enquiry and in most of the cases after due enquiry action has been taken, Dhal said.
“The law and order is fully under control. We are committed to a free, fair and peaceful election on May 10,” the CEO said.
