51,000 personnel to report for first phase polls in Bihar
2 min readThe Election Commission has asked 51,000 polling personnel to report on duty for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 10 in six naxal-infested constituencies in Bihar.
“Once the 51,000 polling personnel report on duty, they will be dispatched to their locations tomorrow. We are ready for the first phase of elections,” Additional Chief Electoral Officer R Lakshmanan told reporters.
Six naxal-infested constituencies — Aurangabad, Karakat, Sasaram, Gaya, Nawada and Jamui — are going to polls on April 10.
The EC declared Tarapur Assembly constituency in Jamui Lok Sabha seat as naxal-affected and has notified that polling there will end at 4 pm instead of 6pm as notified earlier, election office sources said.
As the polling personnel move to their centres, around 53,000 Central Paramilitary Forces and Bihar Policemen will also be deployed to ensure fair elections. The central forces will be stationed at critical poll stations as well.
Two helicopters from the Indian Air Force, one from the Bihar government, as well as, a state-owned plane will be on election duty from tomorrow. The health department here has been asked to ensure air ambulances to tackle medical emergencies, the sources said.
The EC has planned to have video cameras at 653 polling stations and still cameras at 1,699 polling stations across the six constituencies. Live web-cast will be done from 486 polling stations, while micro-observers will be deployed at 2,428 polling stations.
“We are establishing a control room at the office of our Chief Electoral Officer. It will function from tomorrow till April 11. People can call on 0612-2215281 or fax their complaints on 0612-2215611,” said Lakshmanan.
The polling day has been declared a paid holiday in the polling areas for those employed in any institution or enterprise. Sale of liquor has been prohibited from today afternoon till the end of polling on the due date.
Courtesy: PTI
