All arrangements for SMC elections complete, says RO

Shimla, May 21 (UNI) District Returning Officer and Shimla Deputy Commissioner Tarun Kapoor today said preparations for the Shimla Municipal Corporations (SMC) elections have been completed.

Six hundred employees have been deputed to man 150 polling booths that have been set up for the 25-member corporation elections, which are to be held on Wednesday, he said.

Mr Kappor said an additional 100 employees have also been kept in reserve in case of any exigencies.

Out of a total of 160 booths, 15 have been declared ultra sensitive and another 51 sensitive, he said, adding that 381 police personnel have been deployed in these booths to ensure free and fair polls.

He said three reserve battalions have been stationed at Boileuganj-Summerhill, The Mall Road and Sanjauli, while a Home Guard battalion has been deployed at Chotta Shimla.

The polling would begin at 0700 hrs on Wednesday and would continue up to 1600 hrs, while the counting of votes would be done on Friday from 0800 hrs, Mr Kapoor added.

UNI