EC plans workshop on security,poll expenditure

During the meeting,Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha asked the officials to expedite the pre-poll exercise regarding security management in Assembly constituencies. These exercises include vulnerability mapping of polling stations,villages and wards and identification of possible trouble-makers.

Assembly elections in the state are scheduled to be conducted before May 13 and,as less than six months are left for polls,the Election Commission has started pre-poll exercises to maintain law and order.

Directives have been issued for the district administration and police officials to conduct vulnerability mapping of polling stations on the basis of caste,communities,criminal activities,political rivalry,past cases of violence during polls and geographical grounds. The districts have been provided a draft proforma on which officials have to submit their first preliminary report of vulnerable polling stations to the CEO by December 20.

As per the draft,officials have to give reports about vulnerable villages and wards in polling stations,number of voters there,reasons for vulnerability,names of persons identified as possible trouble-makers,action taken against them,number of arms licenses issued in polling station area,number of cases in which action was taken under section 107/116 of CrPC and Goonda Act in the area.

During the recent review meeting with Chief Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi,44 districts across the state were reported to be sensitive.

Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said,“Vulnerability has to be checked at the level of polling stations in Assembly constituencies. District authorities have started the exercise in this regard.”