Piravom set for polling on Saturday

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Out of the 134 polling booths in Piravom constituency, 26 have been declared sensitive and so, the Election Commission has made elaborate security arrangements for polling on Saturday.

Chief Electoral Officer Nalini Netto, said that live web casting would be installed at four of the 26 polling booths, and video coverage provided for six polling booths. Micro observers will also be deployed at all the other sensitive booths.

A heavy police posse will also be deployed throughout the constituency on the day of the polls. As many as 13 observers have been deployed in the constituency to prevent any unlawful activities.

The CEO also said that, as many as 2,417 complaints regarding violations of the code of conduct were received in connection with the Piravom polls. The complaint about the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, violating the code of conduct during the road show that was conducted as part of the Piravom poll campaign would also be investigated.

Arrangements for counting of votes on March 21 were also made. The results will be available by about 10.30 am, the CEO said.

ID card or slip must to vote
Collector Sheik Pareeth has said only those who have a voter ID card or a voter slip will be allowed to cast their votes in the Piravom by-election this time around. Pareeth added that all the arrangements for the crucial polls on March 17 have been completed.

A huge police force, comprising nearly 1,400 personnel has been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents. The city police commissioner M.R. Ajith Kumar and rural SP, K.P. Philip will monitor the situation continuously.

Thirty micro-observers and shadow police personnel will also be working round the clock. “The services of the CRPF will not be sought,” he said.

Polling will start from 7 am and continue till 5 pm. “Valid” voters who don’t have the requisite documents could contact the help desk being set up near the booths.

Poll observers have so far destroyed over 10,560 posters that have violated the model code of conduct and the expenses for this will be added to the account of the respective candidate, he said.

A total of 134 polling booths have been set up for a total of 1,83, 493 voters. Political leaders and workers from outside the constituency were asked to move out by 5 pm on Thursday at the very latest — the deadline for hard campaigning.

Vote counting is slated to progress at the Muvattupuzha Nirmala Junior School on March 21. Hourly updates of a candidate’s position will be announced and the final result would be out by 1 pm.

A total of 26 booths have been identified as sensitive and a direct web cast of poll exercises from 14 of these will be watched by the functionaries and senior officials of the election commission, the collector said.