A majority of polling stations for the by-elections to be held on June 12 have been classified as sensitive.
Addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat on Tuesday, Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal informed that of 5,413 polling stations in 18 assembly and one Lok Sabha seats, as many as 3,200 have been classified as ‘sensitive’. He said additional forces would be deployed in all the sensitive polling stations. Meanwhile, the officials have been asked to send updates about each polling station once in every two hours on the polling day.
The CEO had earlier held a video-conference with Superintendants of Police and Collectors of 12-election bound districts. During the video conference, it has been decided to deploy 118 companies of Central forces. In addition, armed forces would be sent from the State capital to election-bound districts. Bhanwarlal said that so far the law and order situation has remained in control.
Bhanwarlal said that all the EVMs to be used for by-elections have been checked and found to be in perfect condition. He said necessary instructions have also been given to take up the videography of the poll process and appointment of Micro Observers in all the polling stations. It has also been instructed to arrange live web cast of poll process in the polling stations.
So far, Rs 31.65 crore of cash has been seized and 1.74 lakh litres of illicit liquor has been seized. As many as 539 vehicles have also been seized and 3,390 belt shops have been closed till now.
Bhanwarlal said that from the date of announcement of elections till now, 275 complaints have been received from various political parties as well as from individuals. Of them, action has been taken on 117 cases which includes issue of notices by the Election Commission of India to the political leaders. The remaining 158 cases are at different stages and action would be initiated within a couple of days, he said. Some complaints have also been received through e-mails.
When asked about Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP president Chandrababu Naidu’s remarks that Kadapa MP Jaganmohan Reddy might face imprisonment up to 14 years in assets case, the CEO said that although it was not a violation of Model Code of Conduct, the political leaders should restrain from such statements as the case pending in the court.
Bhanwarlal said that the District Media Monitoring Committees have been keep a watch on paid news although no such case has been noticed so far. (INN)