Second phase polls: 2270 booths identified as ‘sensitive’

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury

Bhubaneswar, April 15:

The Election Commission has identified 2270 booths in the areas going to polls in the second phase of elections in Odisha on April 17 as ‘sensitive’. Chief Electoral Officer Mona Sharma,  however, asserted that foolproof arrangements had been made to ensure free and and fair polls on Thursday.

“We have identified some pockets in three districts – Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jajpur – as Naxal affected areas. However, we have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure free and fair polls. A total of 406 companies of security personnel, including 64 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), will be deployed across the 13 districts going to polls on April 17,” Sharma told media persons here today.

The commission has decided to conduct live web casting in 329 booths and video recording in 295 booths, she said.

About 16 million voters spread over 13 districts will decide the political fate of 98 candidates for the 11 Lok Sabha and 747 aspirants for the 77 assembly seats in the final phase of polling Thursday in Odisha.

All the three major political parties BJD, BJP and Congress hope to put up a good show in the elections after conducting extensive campaigns in these areas. But the stakes are particularly high for the BJD, which had won 69 of the 77 Assembly segments which would go to polls on Thursday.