Pics: Justin D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Apr 20: "To maintain the law and order situation, 91% of the general elections will be webcasted," said Dr Vidyakumari, deputy commissioner (DC) of Udupi district.
She addressed a media briefing ahead of the general elections at the Udupi press club. During the briefing, she stated, "Mustering will be held on April 25 at the constituency headquarters. There are 10 candidates in the fray with one provision for NOTA. Service voters were provided with a postal ballot facility, and home voting has also been successfully conducted. As much as 97% of home voting has been completed, with 6,100 opting for the home voting facility. The postal voter center is also opened in the headquarters. A total of 559 voters belonging to the category of service electors were electronically sent the postal ballot paper on April 9. The total number of voters in essential services is 395. They have been provided with the facility of postal voting, and a postal voting center has been set up in the office of the returning officer.
“The voting machines required for the election, including 20% extra, were prepared and deposited in the security room of the assistant returning officers on April 13 with the assistance of ECIL engineers and in the presence of the candidates. Out of the 1,842 polling booths in this Lok Sabha constituency, webcasting will be conducted in 1,270 polling booths on the polling day, and close observers will be deployed in 355 polling booths, with videographers stationed at 18 polling booths. Additionally, CAPF and KSRP police will be deployed at the polling stations. The deployment plan prepared in this manner has also been approved by the general and security observers appointed by the Election Commission of India.
After the polling, all the EVM machines and statutory and non-statutory documents will be deposited at St Cecily Educational Institutions in Udupi. The deposit will be kept in the safe rooms established in the institution until the counting day. Adequate security arrangements will be made for the security room and the counting center as per the guidelines of the Election Commission.
"On the day after polling, a poll review meeting will be conducted based on the documents related to polling under the chairmanship of the general observer. Candidates or their representatives are allowed to participate in this process. There will be separate guidelines and etiquette for the period within 24, 48, and 72 hours before polling ends.
"For the convenience of the voters on the polling day, drinking water, seating arrangements, and wheelchairs for the disabled have been provided in each polling station. Vehicle arrangements will also be made for physically challenged voters from their homes to the polling station and back if they make a request in advance at the local Gram Panchayat or Village Resource Person on the polling day," she said.
Speaking about the seizures that occurred during the MCC period, Vidyakumari said, "Liquor worth Rs 94,40,000, counting to 15,343 litres, has been seized. Drugs worth Rs 1.10 lac and shirts and pants worth Rs 80,000 were also seized by the squads. The FST team has seized Rs 15 lac cash, and the railway police have seized Rs 25 lac cash. Two vehicles have also been seized for violating the MCC, and an FIR has been lodged."
Zilla panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal and district police superintendent Dr Arun K explained about various measures and preparedness taken by the departments for the upcoming polls.