“STATIC SurveillanceTeam (SST) and Flying SquadTeam (FST) will become more active and act strictly on anyone indulging in illegal campaigning during silent period,” warned Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector and District Election Officer at a press conference held at Niyojan Bhavan on Monday. Campaigning for ensuing Assembly election came to an end at 6 pm on Monday, as public outreach of any kind is not allowed during period of 48 hours before start of voting, which is from 6 pm on Monday. Vinayak Mahamuni, Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad Nagpur; Dr Ravinder Singal, Commissioner of Police, Nagpur (City);PravinMahire,Deputy District Election Officer; and Vinod Rapatwar, District InformationOfficerwerealso present at the press conference.

 

Dr Itankar informed that all the necessary arrangements have been made to conduct fairelections.Hesaid, “There will be 4,631 polling stations in the district. All 2,169 urban polling stations and 1,291, about 53% rural pollingstation,willhavedirect web casting service. The link will be available with control room in Collector office and an additionallink will be provided at Control room in CP office for real time monitoring of the election process,” said Dr Vipin Itankar. There are total 127 critical polling stationsin the district where micro observers are appointed, informed Dr Itankar. “The administration will be employing services of drones tokeepawatchinhigh population density areas to keep a check on any illegal activities during silent period,” added the District Collector.

 

Dr Itankar also informed that,ElectionCommission of India (ECI) has provided all officers on election duty with ChakrikaApp’thatwillinform location of officers on duty so that the officers can be dispatchedincaseof emergency on election day. DistrictElectionOfficerreiterated and expressedhisconfidence of achieving the 75% voting percentage in the Assembly elections.

 

He said, “The administration has implemented a massive SVEEPprogramme toencourage voters to participate in voting process. We have also focusedlargelyonwomenand youngsters toincrease thevoting percentage.The administration has also arranged benches, chairs, wheel chair and ramp facilities for divyangs to take part in the voting process.” While informing about the action taken during period of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) Dr Itankar informed that the administration has seized materials to the tune of Rs 39.60 crore. It included cash, gold, liquor, ration kits amongother things,headded. Dr Itankar expressed confidence that voting process will pass of smoothly.