EC: 80 micro-observers, VVPAT machines in all polling stations

103 OF 236 STATIONS TO HAVE WEBCASTING; 1,416 ADMIN STAFF AND 1,022 PERSONNEL OF POLICE AND BSF DEPUTED

The Election Commission on Saturday said it has made all arrangements for the Shahkot bypoll on May 28.

Punjab chief electoral officer S Karuna Raju said 80 microobservers have been appointed to work as “eyes and ears” of the commission. “All 236 polling stations will be covered with VVPAT machines. A total of 103 stations will be covered with webcasting. The number of polling staff is 1,416 and 1,022 personnel of Punjab Police and BSF have been deputed in Shahkot,” he said.

He said 25 teams have been formed to ensure no person, including political functionaries and party workers, who are not the elector in the constituency stays in Shahkot after campaigning ends. “These teams will check hotels, community halls, guesthouses and other places to find out the outsiders,” Raju said, adding checkposts have been set up in the constituency borders to track vehicle movements from outside Shahkot. He said 1,72,676 voters will decide the fate of 12 candidates in fray. Voting will start at 7am on May 28 and will go on till 6pm. Counting of votes will be held on May 31.

The chief electoral officer said there are 2,201 arms licences in this constituency, of which 2,005 have been deposited and the remaining weapons will be deposited soon. He said ₹17.5 lakh has been seized along with 45,750 ml liquor. “A star campaigner can take ₹ 1 lakh with him, while the ordinary person can’t carry more than ₹50,000. In total, 31 complaints were received, of which 30 are of general nature and one was on movement of illegal liquor. 18 complaints have been resolved and remaining will be disposed of soon,” he said.