Bhilai, Nov 19: Stage is all set in the district for the Vidhan Sabha elections scheduled on November 20 with stepped up security put in place to thwart any possible threat. All the election parties had reached to their respective booths till Monday evening and had started preparations to conduct voting. Polling would begin at 08:00 hrs and will come to end at 17:00 hrs.
As per police sources, 584 polling booths in the district have been categorized as ‘sensitive’. More than 4000 jawans / officers of Paramilitary forces, Central Reserve Police Force and other Forces have been deployed at the sensitive booths. District Force and SPOs will look after the remaining booths. 2000 jawans / officers of District Force and SPO have been deployed at these booths. All the gazetted officers of District Police accompanied with one gazetted officer of paramilitary force and a commando will conduct patrolling across their Police Station limits for the entire day. Atleast 5 personnel have been deployed at every booth having larger number of voters while four personnel have been deployed at booths having lower number of voters. AD Squad and Quick Response Teams will be positioned at different places across the district. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polls. A major portion of the security forces has been kept in reserve. Patrolling parties would keep surveillance to ensure trouble free polls.
Security has been stepped up in the Steel City ahead of polling. Denizens felt the presence of police personnel at almost all the squares and important places. Police had intensified the checking of vehicles at almost all the places. On suspicion, the cops are checking the documents of the vehicles and also the identity of the passengers. Security measures have been highlighted and strict vigil is being kept across the city. Tight arrangements have been made at railway station, bus stands, restaurants and major centres to screen suspected troublemakers and anti-social elements. Sniffer dogs and Bomb Squad have been pressed into service for conducting checking in the public places. From the last one week, strict vigil is being maintained on hotels and lodges and the visitors’ register is being checked daily.
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Polling material distributed from three centers
Considering the large number of booths in the district, the polling material was distributed to the polling parties from three different centers in Durg. The polling parties deployed in Patan and Durg (Urban) constituencies received the EVMs, VVPATs and other material from the distribution centre at Manas Bhavan in Durg. Polling material for Durg (Rural) and Ahiwara constituencies were distributed from Polytechnic College in Durg while the polling parties for Bhilai Nagar and Vaishali Nagar constituencies received the polling material from Science College in Durg. Material for some booths of Saja and Bemetara were also distributed from the centre at Manas Bhavan.
12,91,570 voters from six different assembly constituencies of the district will exercise their franchise to elect their representative in the state’s assembly. Special arrangements have been made for the Divyang voters. Polling will be held at 1442 polling booths including 07 sub-booths. Nine polling booths have been categorized as Sangwari Booths while the number of Model Polling Booths is 23. The entire district has been divided into 132 sectors in which 382 micro observers have been deployed. Web Casting (Live telecast) of election proceedings will be conducted from 158 polling booths. Polling will be held in 221 booths in Durg (Rural); 209 booths in Durg (Urban); 163 in Bhilai Nagar; 236 in Vaishali nagar; 251 booths in Ahiwara and 241 booths of Patan assembly constituency.
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Strong Room at SSEC Junwani
After conclusion of the polling on November 20, the polling parties would seal the EVMs and other material and carry the same amid tight security to the Strong Room which has been established at Shri Shankaracharya Engineering College (SSEC) in Junwani. The polling parties deployed in booths which come under Saja and Bemetara constituencies will deposit the sealed ballot units and control units at the Strong Room established at Krishi Upaj Mandi in Bemetara.
Elaborate security arrangement has been made at the premises of SSEC where the EVMs will be stored. One Company of Central Paramilitary Force has been deployed in the core tier of multi-tier security arrangement at the Strong Room. The armed jawans will be deployed for the security of ballot units and control units at the Strong Room.
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Holiday for polling
The General Administration Department of Chhattisgarh Government has declared local / general holiday on November 20. The labours and workers of industrial establishments will get holiday for exercising their franchise. At industrial establishments which work 24×7, the workmen will get two-hours leave in first and second shifts for casting their votes. At establishments where production is conducted uninterruptedly, the workmen will get leave one-by-one for exercising their franchise.
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