Read more: Modi appeals for making Census a success, assures data shared is secure, protected
“Entry into a polling booth will be strictly prohibited unless a voter’s identity is clearly verified and it has to be ensured by the sector officers,” a EC top official told ET. “Emphasis is being laid on strict and proper adherence to the guidelines issued by the Election Commission.” For the first time, Quick Response Teams (QRTs) will be provided with motorbikes for the second phase of elections in Kolkata and adjacent areas which have narrow lanes and alleys, a top-level source told ET. “This measure will help the QRTs to reach the spots promptly by navigating through the narrow alleys.
In ‘super-super sensitive’ polling booths, the third camera will not be installed inside the polling booth but outside the booths, so that the approach to the polling booths can be observed, a senior EC official said. On April 28, on P-1 day, prior to the second phase of polling, a last-minute briefing will be conducted for Presiding Officers and first polling officers, where essential points will be covered, special observers Subrata Gupta told ET. All these instructions were issued at a joint coordination meeting for all the three election districts under Kolkata held on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Subrata Gupta and NK Mishra visited various high-rise housing societies in the Jadavpur, Tollygunge, Ballygunge and Rashbehari assembly constituencies in south Kolkata on Sunday and interacted with voters residing there as part of the confidence building measure. “We have received very positive responses from the residents of the high-rise housing societies. They told us that they will be able to vote in large numbers as the polling booths will be set up inside the housing complexes. Leaflets were distributed to everyone including pedestrians,” Gupta told ET.
Route marches have been conducted by the CAPF as part of the confidence-building measures and all known anti-socials and history-sheeters should be immediately nabbed. DG CRPF GP Singh has reached Bengal and he is present and coordinating with his force.
