Lok Sabha elections 2019: 212 sensitive booths to be set in Chandigarh this year
The constituency has also set up a district control room besides a call centre with 150 as the toll free number on which resident can call up and get information regarding polls.
With Election Commission of India (ECI) announcing the Lok Sabha election dates, on Sunday, the model code of conduct has come into force in Chandigarh.
The city will vote on May 19 during the last phase of elections wherein out of a total of 597 polling booths, 212 stations have been categorised as sensitive this year.
A total of 191 polling stations will be set up in the city for over 6.19 lakh voters. Out of this, 355 are service electors. Owing to increased population, the polling stations are more compared to 527 in 2014.
“As per the protocol, webcasting will be done across all the polling stations,” said chief electoral officer, Ajoy Kumar Sinha,while addressing the media.
Even though sensitive booths were set up in UT last time also, we adhere to guidelines from the Centre, shared officials.
“The city has been divided into 745 Sectors with designated nodal officers for major operations to ensure smooth voting,” Sinha said.
“Staff comprising over 3,500-4,000 members from several departments of the Chandigarh administration have undergone formal training,” he said, adding, the verification of polling booths has been carried out.
Deputy commissioner (DC)-cum-returning officer for the elections Mandip Singh Brar, however, added, that there can be alterations in sensitive booths depending on the candidates since it also directly impacts the area where the booths are set up.
District control room set up at DC office
The constituency has also set up a district control room besides a call centre with 150 as the toll free number on which resident can call up and get information regarding polls.
Also, a control room for the returning officer has been set up at the first floor in the DC office, Sector 17.This control room will also function as a nodal point to resolve all the complaints and coordinate between the multiple teams.
Flying squads,app, panels: Polls have it all
The officials also elaborated on how UT will use the new C-Vigil app launched by the ECI where in any resident can lodge cases relating to violation of the model code of conduct. “Following the complaint, the flying squad will reach at the place of incident within 15 minutes and report back within 30 minutes to the concerned officer,” said Sinha.
In this app, the complainant has to capture the image or videograph the incident so that the action can be initiated within 100 minutes.
A nodal officer for expenditure monitoring has also been appointed to check the day-to-day account of the candidates, said the DC . An expenditure monitoring cell is yet to be created.
However, a district-level media monitoring committee comprising of seven officials under the chairmanship of the DC has been constituted to look into paid news and ad certification by the candidates and their parties.
In case of any issue, the same can be taken up with the state-level media monitoring committee which will be headed by the UT CEO.
‘Security arrangements in place’
A total of nine flying squads comprising of six-seven officers have been constituted which will have at least one executive district magistrate, a cop and others.
DIG-Police said that enough force has been deployed at all major check points as per the mandate and special guidelines are in place to ensure no liquor trade or smuggling takes place.
Teams galore
Multiple teams including video surveillance, video viewing , static surveillance, flying squads and accounting teams have been appointed. Additional commissioner of MC, Anil Garg, has been appointed as the nodal officer for enforcement of model code of conduct.
In a first, an all women booth this year
In a first, the UT administration is attempting to have a few all women booth after representations were submitted in this regard.The returning officer said, aiming for the safety and security of female voters, most likely few booths will be set up exclusively by women and for women, this year.
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ALL DECKS SET City will vote on May 19 during the last phase of elections
