Voters are going to avail VIP treatment as the Election Commission has set up 24 model booths and two super model booths in the constituency.
D-day is finally here for 22 candidates of Ludhiana constituency, and a total of 15.59 voters will exercise their franchise on Wednesday to choose their next Member of Parliament.
Weather is all set to play a major role in polling as the Met department has predicted 42 degree Celsius maximum temperature while minimum can be around 25 degrees Celsius. A handful of voters are going to avail VIP treatment as the Election Commission has set up 24 model booths and two super model booths in the constituency.
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From drinking water, queue management volunteers, waiting room and executive class interior decor, each constituency’s Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) has been handed over responsibility to arrange some luxurious facilities for voters. The two super model booths have been set up in Ludhiana (Central) where red carpet will be laid out to welcome the voters. Also, the interiors of the booth at Ramgharia Senior High School, Miller Ganj, have been done in complete blue and white to attract voters.
Talking to Newsline, ARO (Central) Kuldip Singh Vaid said, “We have arranged volunteers to serve chilled water. Also, there is a waiting room provision for senior citizens and pregnant women. Our volunteers will be wearing special jackets with ‘May I Help You’ tag and they will do proper queue management. Volunteers will be standing at the gate to welcome and escort the voters. Also, like model booths, clean toilets, running water and proper shade have been arranged.”
All model booths, minimum two in each constituency, will be providing sitting space for old and pregnant women, volunteers to serve water, queue management and escorts for blind, disabled and old age. Also, keeping in mind the rising mercury, all have been directed by the Deputy Commissioner to arrange for sheds.
Some AROs are providing extra facilities too. ARO (Ludhiana East) Sumeet Jarangal said that “model booths in his area have been decorated with plants and flowers at the entrance”.
Interestingly, the volunteers are not paid and local youth has been involved by the election office to help out in assisting the voters. ARO (North) Anil Kumar Garg said, “Volunteers will arrange separate queues for male and female, and pregnant women will be given preference. Also, we have put signboards of ‘in’ and ‘exit’ directions. A wheelchair has been placed at the ramp for any voter who is not able to walk and a nurse will be on duty to ensure first aid.”
Divya Goyal is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Ludhiana (Punjab). She is widely recognized for her human-interest storytelling and in-depth investigative reporting on social and political issues in the region.
Professional Profile
Experience: With over 13 years in journalism, she joined The Indian Express in 2012. She previously worked with Hindustan Times.
Education: A gold medalist in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi.
Core Beats: She covers a diverse range of subjects, including gender issues, education, the Sikh diaspora, heritage, and the legacy of the Partition. She has also reported on minority communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Awards and Recognition
Divya has earned significant acclaim for her sensitivity toward gender and social disparities:
Laadli Media Award (2020): For her investigative report "Punjab: The Invisible Drug Addicts," which exposed the gender disparity in treating women addicts.
Laadli Media Award (2023): For a ground report on the struggles of two girls who had to ride a boat to reach their school in a border village of Punjab.
Signature Style
Divya is known for "humanizing the news." Rather than just reporting on policy, she often focuses on the individuals affected by it—such as students dealing with exam stress, farmers struggling with diversification, or families impacted by crime. Her work often bridges the gap between West (Pakistan) and East (India) Punjab, exploring shared heritage and common struggles.
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