Arrangements made for polling on May 8: DEO

Pondicherry, May 6(UNI) All arrangements for polling to the 27 assembly constituencies in Pondicherry and Karaikal regions of the Union Territory for the second phase on May 8 have been completed, District Election Officer and District Collector Theva Neethi Das said today.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the polling will be held from 0700 hours to 1700 hours without any break. Voters, who lost their identity cards, could cast their votes, since their photographs were affixed on the voters list, he added.

Mr Das said such voters will have to produce any one of the five documents prescribed by the Election Commission(EC) to prove their identities. There would, however, be 100 per cent EPIC coverage in the Union territory, but only five documents were permitted, unlike other states, he added.

He said the campaigning concluded at 1700 hours today and section- 126 of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951, prohibits display of the election related matters by cinematograph,television or newspapers.

He said any person who violates the provision is liable to be punished with fine or imprisonment, which may extend to two years.

Mr Das said 77 booths were identified as sensitive and additional security was being provided.

The department had identified 15 booths, where the same candidate or party had obtained more than 70 percent votes in the 2001 assembly elections and 2004 Lok Sabha elections, he added.

He said all the voters in the 15 booths, besides the sensitive ones, would be photographed during the poll. In all 537 booths, mostly Central Government officials were appointed.

The Additional Senior Superintendent of Police B Srikanth said a total number of 2000 police personnel will be deployed for election duty.

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