[ Nellie N Manpoong ]
ITANAGAR, Apr 9: The state election commission (EC) here said it is prepared for polling day with around 14,000 polling officials involved for the 2202 polling stations spread across the state.
Additional Chief Electoral Officer (ACEO) Kangki Darang informed that well-trained polling teams have been deployed to their designated destinations, while some will leave for their destinations on Wednesday.
The EC has also engaged 45 companies of the central armed police force for security and area domination. From the state, at least 7566 personnel from the civil police and the IRBn will be engaged. Some locations in the state will also engage forest guards.
Darang informed that some companies of the central armed forces have been deployed to ‘critical’ polling stations.
There are about 643 polling stations identified as critical.
Of the 150 polling stations in Papum Pare district, 39 have been identified as critical. No critical polling stations have been identified in Upper Siang district, while Lower Subansiri district has the lowest number after Upper Siang, with three critical polling stations.
Out of the 141 polling stations in Kurung Kumey district, 133 have been identified as critical, followed by Tirap, where 59 of the 100 polling stations have been identified as critical.
The ACEO further informed that the randomization of polling teams for some of the polling stations has begun, while randomization of electronic voting machines has been completed in front of the general observer.
The polling officials need to reach their destinations at least a day before polling, and teams for remote places have already been dispatched.
Darang said Arunachal recorded 76.96% turnout in the 2014 elections, which was above the national average. He expressed hope that the elections this time would also see maximum turnout.
He appealed to the voters to come out and cast their votes to choose the right representatives for the assembly and the Lok Sabha for the nation’s progress.
Meanwhile, Governor BD Mishra reiterated his appeal to the people of the state to cast their votes on 11 April.
He called upon every voter of the state to be a part of the democratic process as citizens of India, which is the world’s largest democracy.
The governor also appealed to the media to “discharge their social obligation,” and advised Doordarshan and All India Radio to “reach out to the people.” (With input from Raj Bhavan)
