Bhubaneswar: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha, Sushil Kumar Lohani has made elaborate arrangements for the by-Poll to Dhamnagar Assembly Constituency. Polling parties, EVMs, election materials, security arrangements – all are in place.
CEO, Mr.Lohani said that Polling parties have reached their booths. Polling parties pertaining to the rural and distant places have been disbursed yesterday while the polling teams mostly pertaining to urban polling stations have been dispersed today, Lohani said. A total of 1008 Polling Officers are deployed @ 04 per booth. About 100 Polling Officers (25 teams) are under reserve, he said.
The CEO said Polling Officers as well as the EVMs & VVPATs have undergone third round and second round randomizations respectively before they are sent to respective booths.
The election campaigns have been restricted before 48 hours of voting. Silent period came into force from 6 p.m. yesterday. Collector, SP and Returning Officer have been instructed to ensure that all political party workers, star campaigners and candidates who are not voters of 46- Dhamnagar (SC) MLA segment, do leave the constituency area during this period. All community halls, guest houses, hotels are being checked thoroughly, he pointed out.
Exit polls have been banned during the poll day, from 7 AM to 6.30 PM as notified by the Election Commission.
Further, he said, display of election matters including the result of any opinion poll or any other poll survey in media is prohibited during the silent period.
The ECI has also restricted the sale and distribution of liquor in the district. Dry day has also been declared w.e.f. 48 hours before the time fixed for poll i.e. with effect from yesterday evening.
He made it clear that sale or distribution of liquors or the substances of similar nature in hotels, restaurants and shops or any other place are banned during this period.
Canvassing within 100 meters of the booth is an offence. Violators can be arrested without warrant u/s-130 of RP Act-1951, he warned.
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 our notice on the poll day, action will be taken as per guidelines, the CEO said.
In case of need the EVM Unit(s) shall be replaced from the stock of Reserve EVMs available with Sector Officers.
ECI has recommended for 12 alternative photo identity documents for Voters, who in the absence of their EPIC, can produce any of these to establish their identity –
Adequate publicity is being ensured for the voters. Basic minimum facilities like drinking water, light, ramp, approach roads, furniture etc. have been ensured in these booths. Help Desks have been opened by engaging BLOs on the poll day to assist voters in identifying their names, Lohani said.
As many as 2,38,417 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the poll which consists of 1,23,038 males, 1,15,346 females and 33 transgenders.
Poll is going to be held in 252 booths. In 134 booths there is change of nomenclature. While 15 Model Booths with facilities like Ramp, Temp. shed, separate queues, drinking water, volunteers for PwD and Sr. Citizens etc. will be operating on the poll day, 5 Pink booths especially in urban areas totally manned by trained lady Polling Officers will be opened.
There are single booths in 120 locations, double booths in 54 locations, triple booths in 5 locations, 4 booths each at one location and 5 booths each at one location in the area.
Based upon the field inputs, 110 booths have been identified as sensitive. Special arrangements have been made for such booths, he informed.
In 126 booths web casting will be done while 25 Micro Observers have been deployed and extra CAPF deployment will be done in appropriate locations.
Bhadrak SP has been entrusted to look into the Law & Order and proper security during the By Election process. A total of 997 Police Personnel (including officers, armed police, havildar, constables and Home guards) and four companies of CAPF are being deployed for the poll. Informing about the Enforcement measures taken for smooth by-poll, the CEO said 644 licensed arms have been deposited in concerned police stations so far. As many as 2134 persons have been booked under preventive sections of 107 & 116 CrPC and 270 Non bailable warrants have been executed. About 17,573 ltr. of liquor has been seized.