Bengaluru: Less than an hour is left for voting in the state Assembly elections. In view of this, all preparations are done for today’s (May 10) polling. Precautionary measures have been taken to avoid any untoward incident during the polling and tight security arrangements have been put in place for this purpose.
According to available information, a total of 1.56 lakh police personnel have been deployed for the Assembly election security. As many as 304 DySPs, 991 inspectors, 20,610 PSIs and 8,500 policemen from outside the state and 650 CAPF platoons have been deployed for poll duty.
A total of 58,282 polling booths have been set up for polling in the state assembly elections, out of which 11,617 sensitive polling stations have been set up. Security has been deployed by CAPFs and police at sensitive polling booths.
As many as 2,930 police mobile sectors have been operationalised. A mobile sector has to cover 20 polling stations. As many as 749 supervisors have been deployed to oversee the mobile sectors. 700 firing squads and 700 check posts have been constructed.
The State Police, which is keeping a close watch on the border areas of the state ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, has already held consultations with senior police officials of the neighbouring states. Strict instructions have also been issued to allow every vehicle entering the state through the border to be checked and allowed inside. The state police have held discussions with officials from the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala in this regard.
Meanwhile, many areas in Karbataka received rains on May 9 and more rains have been predicted until May 11. The spirits of voters seemed to be at a peak. Of course, the fear of bad weather playing a spoilsport on May 10 and casting a shadow on high voter turn-out cannot be ruled out, especially in Bengaluru given the fact that the voter turnout in 2018 in Bengaluru was just 57 per cent. Similarly, polling may be hit in the interior parts of Karnataka too if it rains, especially at fringes of forest and near hillocks for they might face difficulty to commute and reach on time.
Following the formation of cyclone Mocha, the Weather Department has issued yellow alerts at several parts of Karnataka.
The weather forecast has pressurised polling officials who now have to protect the EVMs and other paraphernalia from getting moisture and also made political parties worried as all of them were expecting a good turnout on Polling day.
In Mangaluru, Police Commissioner Kuldeep Jain said, security has been beefed up ahead of the Assembly elections. As many as 1200 police personnel including home guards have been deployed. He further said, ahead of the elections, two rounds of briefing have been done to the personnel about their roles and responsibilities. Ten CRPF, 4 KSRP and 4 CAR platoons have been deployed. In the city, there are 7 polling stations in five locations which are sensitive and put under CRPF platoons. As much as 75% polling stations are under the CRPF.
Mustering process in Mangaluru/Udupi
On May 9, polling officials and personnel deputed on poll duty reported at the mustering centres in the twin districts. The officials held the mustering process at Rosario PU College in Mangaluru for the eight constituencies of Dakshina Kannada District. Similarly, mustering process began for the five constituencies of Udupi District. The mustering process was held at five centres of St Cecily’s Education Trust Udupi, Bhandarkar’s Arts and Science College, Kundapur, Byndoor Government PU college, Kaup Dandathirtha PU College and Karkala Manjunatha Pai Memorial Government First Grade College. There are 1111 polling booths in Udupi District. As many as 176 buses, 36 mini buses, 54 maxi cabs and 68 jeeps are being utilised for the polling process. A total of 1336 ballot and control units and 1446 VVPATs are used for the polling.
The State Excise Department intensified its checking to prevent election related scams and has conducted raids at 797 spots. During these raids, 17 serious cases were registered. Three cases are registered under NDPS Act. The Department confiscated 866.755 litres of IML, 50.250 litres of beer, 22.750 litres of Goa manufactured liquor, 200 litres of cashew spirit, 875 litres of toddy, eight vehicles and 600 grams of ganja.