15,368 staff deployed for Thane by-polls: Zende

Thane, May 18 (UNI) Elaborate arrangements have been made for the Thane Lok Sabha Constituency by-polls, in which 15,368 staff have been deployed, with an addition of about 5,500 security personnel, Thane District Collector S S Zende, who is also the returning officer for the constituency, said here today.

Mr Zende disclosed this information, while speaking to mediapersons here.

The Thane Lok Sabha Constituency, which is the second largest Lok Sabha constituency in the country next only to Outer Delhi, will go for a by-poll on May 22, necessitated following the untimely death of the sitting MP Prakash Paranjpe, with a voter population of 36.13 lakh eligible voters. There are a total of 3,163 polling booths in the constituency, of which 2,784 are main booths and 415 auxiliary booths.

R Vimla, Deputy District Election officer was also present, for the press conference, in which Mr Zende gave the details of the preparation for the by-polls.

Mr Zende said there are no hypersensitive polling booths in the constituency at all, but a total of 86 sensitive booths, of which 48 are from Belapur, 27 from Ulhasnagar and 10 from Murbad.

Government has declared May 22 as a public holiday for all establishments, offices and banks in the Thane Lok Sabha constituency. Even those who are staying in Thane Lok Sabha constituency and have to go for work elsewhere can enjoy this holiday, he clarified.

The counting of votes will be held in the APMC Market, Vashi, on May 25, 2008, he said.

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