Bhubaneswar, May 8: About 2,21,719 voters will exercise their franchise in the by-election to Jharsuguda Assembly seat on May 10 next, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Behari Dhal said on Monday.
Addressing newsmen here, Dhal said all necessary preparedness for the by Poll has been completed. Polling Parties, EVMs, Election materials, Security arrangements – all are in place.
He said polling will be held in 253 booths spread over in 197 locations in the constituency.
On the Poll day on May 10 Mock Poll will start at 5.30 a.m. followed by Poll at 7.00 AM which will continue till 6 PM. Two-hourly voting turnout report will be released for information of public, he said
As many as 40 Model Booths have been set up with facilities like Ramp,temporary shed, separate queues, and 26 Pink booths were opened especially in urban areas totally manned by Trained lady Polling Officers
The CEO said basing upon the field inputs, 116 Critical booths have been identified in 69 locations. Special arrangements have been done for such booths.
In all 253 booths Web casting has been planned. 69 Micro Observers will be deployed and extra CRPF deployment will be done in appropriate locations.
A total of 1012 Polling Officers are deployed @ 04 per booth. About 96 Polling Officers (i.e. 24 Teams) are kept in reserve.
Restriction on Election Campaigns has come into force from 6 PM on Monday and the Collector, S.P. and Returning Officer have been instructed to ensure that all Political party workers, Star campaigners and Candidates who are not voters of -Jharsuguda will leave the constituency
Dry day has also been declared from this evening and sale or distribution of liquors or the substances of similar nature in hotels, restaurants, shops or any other place are banned during this period.
Dhal said no person shall conduct any exit poll and publish or disseminate the result of any exit poll during the period till 6.30 PM of May 10 adding the violators shall be punished with up to 2 years imprisonment or fine or both as per Sec.126 A of R.P.Act,1951. He said all the EVMs to be used in the Poll have been commissioned in presence of Contesting Candidates. Six trained Engineers from ECIL, Hyderabad will be deployed for the Poll day to rectify or replace in case there is any defective EVM or malfunctioning EVM comes to the notice on the Poll day.
The CEO said special transport arrangement has been made for P.w.D Voters from their houses to booth and back
A total of 1814 Police personnel and seven companies of CAPF are being deployed for the Poll.The CAPF is being deployed in 144 booths. Dhal said as many as 12 complaints 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.
During this period nine cases of violation relating to MCC and law and order have been brought to our notice and FIRs have been registered against different persons in these cases. The CEO said the Law and Order situation is fully under control adding “We are committed to a free, fair and peaceful election on May 10.
