23,22,442 voters to exercise their franchise in three Barak districts today

Special correspondent

SILCHAR, April 3: All preparations have been made to hold the elections in a free and fair manner in all the three districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi of Barak Valley. In all, 2322442 voters which include 1220673 male and 1101769 female will exercise their franchise today (Monday) to elect 196 candidates contesting for 15 assembly constituencies. According to the information, Hailakandi constituency records highest number of 23 candidates belonging to different political parties, INC, AIUDF, BJP, SP, NCP and SUCI (C). Among them 17 are Independent candidates. The lowest number of 5 contestants is from Dholai constituency. They are contesting on the symbols of INC, AIUDF, BJP, SUCI (C) and 1 Independent.

 Poll officials with their election materials have moved to their respective polling stations. In Cachar district with 7 assembly constituencies, security guards have accompanied the poll officials and staff. It is to be mentioned that while Hailakandi has 3 assembly constituencies, Karimganj 5. Along with that vigilance has been mounted and the surveillance teams are keeping close watch on the movement of suspicious elements and vehicles. Particular watch is being kept on the entry and exit points of Barak Valley. The strategic location of the valley with the borders of Bangladesh in the west, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura necessitates maximum alertness.

 Above all, foolproof security arrangements in and around the polling booths have been tightened with the deployment of paramilitary forces and Tripura State Rifles. From all reckoning, every care has been taken by the district administrations of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi to ensure nothing untoward happens and the voters can vote peacefully. Hypersensitive and sensitive booths of all the 15 constituencies will have focused attention. According to the information, in Cachar, of the 1281 polling stations, 287 are highly sensitive. Hailakandi which has Mizoram border in the east with militancy problem has 313 highly sensitive booths out of 555. Of the 975 booths in Karimganj, 165 have been identified as highly sensitive and 103 as critical.

 All the political parties staking their claim in the high pitch poll battle and their leaders have put their fingers crossed, waiting for the decisive day which is just a few hours away. With the break of dawn, voters will be seen lining up before the polling booths to cast their votes from 7 am which will continue till 5 pm. For the last few days, election machinery and district administration of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi have left no stone unturned to make people aware of their fundamental right and equally important to exercise it to remain an integral part of the democracy.

 It is their active participation that keeps democracy and democratic values kicking and going in the best interest of the people and the tion. As notified earlier by the administration of Cachar, buses, sumos and cruisers have been transporting poll officials and their election materials to their polling booths from Cachar College of this town and TRIP at Jaffirband, 15 km from here, since early in the morning of 5 am.