Pulwama: Polling parties comprising polling personnel and Micro-Observers along with poll material, EVMs/VVPAT machines have been dispatched on Sunday in Shopian, Pulwama and Ladakh, officials said.
450 polling parties, comprising of 1900 polling personnel and Micro-Observers, along with poll material, EVMs/VVPAT machines were dispatched for different polling stations of four Assembly constituencies of Pampore, Tral, Rajpora and Pulwam, District Election Officer (DEO), Pulwama Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah said.
He said that 17 Zonal and 47 Sector Magistrates have been appointed by District Administration for smooth conduct of general election in the district.
He impressed upon the Assistant Returning Officers, Zonal and Sector Magistrates to ensure that poll parties reach their destinations well in time.
Adequate number of security personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police and central paramilitary forces escorted the polling parties.
245 polling parties along with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and other election material were dispatched for conduct of polls in two Assembly segments of District Shopian (35-Wachi and 36-Shopian), District Election Officer (DEO) Shopian, Dr. Owais Ahmed said. He visited various polling stations across the district to take stock of the arrangements put in place to conduct the elections peacefully. He said that eight Model polling stations have also been established in the district. He said that out of 245 polling parties 127 have been sent to 36-Shopian and 118 to 35-Wachi.
DEO emphasized upon the Zonal/sector Magistrates and Zonal/Sector Officers of the Police to evolve better coordination to ensure effective and transparent polling. He impressed upon the Zonal and Sector Magistrates to ensure that poll parties must reach their destinations well in time. He entrusted upon the polling parties to work with utmost dedication and devotion for successful completion of polls in the district.
SSP Shopian informed that fool proof security arrangements have been made for safe and hassle free transportation of polling staff and material.
Earlier in the morning, the polling parties reported at their respective dispatch centres where EVM, VVPAT and other election material made available to them.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Deputy District Election Officer, Assistant Commissioner Revenue and other senior officers of police and Civil Administration were also present.
Meanwhile, 172 polling parties along with Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Voter-verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines have been dispatched from Leh to their designated booths under the supervision of District Election Officer (DEO) Leh, Avny Lavasa.
After taking stock of all preparations like issue and collection of polling material, security arrangements and transportation system, she gave a send off to the buses carrying polling parties for different destinations.
Polling staff for 122 polling stations has already been dispatched that include 8 cut off polling stations of Dipling, Skyumpatta, Skyumpatta Gongma, Jingchen, Lingshet, Kartse, Nyaraks and Yulchung where the polling staff have been sent through helicopter well in advance.
DEO said that polling parties for all the 294 polling stations will reach today. She said that this time Leh district will have 49 such polling stations which have purely female polling staff.
Referring to the challenges in some specific area in terms of communication, connectivity, high altitude etc, Lavasa said that District Election Authority has taken every necessary measures such as working out a better communication plan, provision of reserved EVMs and VV PATs, issuing of extra batteries for machines and an improved transportation plan. Besides, all the polling officials have been imparted comprehensive hands on training about the operating and functioning procedures of EVM and VVPAT, she said. She also mentioned that every polling station across Leh district will have ample arrangement of Assured Minimum Facility for the overall convenience of the electorates.
Polling parties for all polling stations in Kargil district were also dispatched from Khree Sultan Chow Sports Stadium Kargil.
The polling parties were flagged off by the District Election Officer (DEO), Kargil Baseer ul Haq Choudhary.
Superintendent of Police Kargil, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kargil , Deputy District Election Officer Kargil, AROs of 49 Kargil and 50 Zanskar Assembly Constituencies, Zonal and Sector Magistrates and Officers, Nodal Officers besides other concerned officers were also present on the occasion.
The polling parties for the far flung areas of the district including Rangdum, Tashi Stongday and Pangbar were dispatched on Saturday while as the polling party for Itchu polling station was also dispatched through IAF helicopters on Saturday.
Before departure for the polling stations, the polling personnel took part in the signature campaign “pledge to ensure free, fair, transparent and ethical elections”.
The DEO while seeing off the polling parties exhorted upon them to perform their assigned responsibilities with utmost sincerity and dedication and to strictly adhere to the ECI guidelines in order to conduct free, fair, transparent and ethical polling in the district.
Earlier in the morning the polling parties reported at the respective dispatch centres where Electronic Voting Machines along with Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machines and other election related material were made available to them.
The DEO while expressing satisfaction over the overall preparedness said that all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure that the elections are conducted in a smooth, free, fair and ethical manner.
The DEO also appealed the general public to enthusiastically participate in the voting process and to cast their vote without any fear.
