Hi-tech poll with foolproof surveillance in Cachar

Special Correspondent

Silchar: With hi-tech preparations and foolproof surveillance and security cover, the district administration of Cachar is all set to hold the elections for the 17th Lok Sabha in Cachar in a peaceful manner. The concept of having model and all female polling stations is also being considered. The Deputy Commissioner of Cachar and Returning Officer laid stress on strict compliance with the model code of conduct of the Election Commission of India in order to ensure trouble-free polls on April 18, the date for Cachar, in the second phase of Assam.

11,93, 908 voters covering the 7 assembly constituencies of Silchar, Sonai, Borkhola, Katigorah, Dholai, Udharbond and Lakhipur will exercise their franchise at 1461 polling stations.. In order to motivate the voters to be poll bound, street plays with appropriate themes are being enacted in urban and rural areas. Of these voters, 6,17, 430 are male while 5,76,400 are female, 78 others. For motivation, the focus is on female voters who are often found to develop inertia to vote.

All the polling stations will have EVMs and voter verifiable paper audit trail which will be monitored by GPS tracks. According to Jagadish Das, Additional Superintendent of Police, some polling stations have been identified as sensitive, hypersensitive and critical. The number of critical polling stations is 20 which quite abnormally recorded 90% voting in favour of a particular candidate in 2014. These polling stations will come under stringent watch to thwart repeat of the misadventure. He however did not specify the number of sensitive and hypersensitive polling stations, but added to say police is fully geared up for the task.

28 mobile awareness teams are working in every polling station location. In 680 polling stations, 667 mock polls could be conducted. This would cover 1200 polling stations as this unique exercise would conclude today. This culminated in reaching out to 9,86.058 voters. Maximum participation makes democracy robust and vibrant for which the Election Commission of India has been hammering. Prime Minister Narendra Mod has appealed to the opposition leaders to motivate voters for exercising their franchise.

EVM ballot paper will carry candidates’ photo identity card. Voters on their part can carry any one of the all other admissible identity proofs on the day of polling. Returning Officer spoke about the strict monitoring of social media and paid news by MCMC. Voter help line 1950 is active. For any complaint, one can take the help of C-Vigil App. App can be downloaded from Google Play for relevant information. In order to have trouble free polling, there will be observer, micro observer and videography, besides security forces put on high alert and vigilance.

Also read: Cachar news