Vote without fear: CEO

Pondicherry, May 7 (UNI) Pondicherry Chief Electoral Officer Kumarasamy today appealed to the electorates to exercise their franchise without fear in the second and final phase of polling tomorrow.

Addressing a press conference here this evening he said all arrangements for the polling in 27 constituencies in Pondicherry and Karaikal have been completed. There are 6,13,654 voters and as many as 199 candidates in the fray. 660 polling stations have been set up and 3960 polling personnel have been deployed. 78 sector magistrates and 33 election patrolling magistrates besides 660 electronic voting machines were being deployed, he added.

He said five companies of central para military forces besides 1823 police personnel, including India Reserve Battalion, Pondicherry armed police, 397 home guards and 76 ex-service men were being deployed for election duty.

The CEO said orders have been issued for sealing the borders.

Seven entry points in Karaikal and Six in Pondicherry would be sealed.

Ninety-four polling booths have been identified as sensitive and hyper sensitive in both the regions and extra security measures were also being taken. Digital cameras would be used in these booths, he added.

Ramps for the beneifit of physically challenged people were provided in all the booths and the auxilary booths were being designated as women's booths. Braille EVMs were also being kept in Lawspet and Kottucherry constituencies, he said.

The Possession of Electoral photo identity card is mandatory to cast the vote since 99.8 per cent of voters have been covered in the union territory. Voters who lost their EPIC can also cast their votes by producing any of the prescribed five documents including passports.

The election department has so far registered 129 cases of violation of model code, of which 72 are of excise-related cases and the remaining of law and order, he said. Notice has been issued to one political party for using more than the stipulated number of vehicles for campaigning. However, the CEO refused to divulge the name of the political party.

UNI