Officers,cops on their toes,get poll plan ready

Dalvi said 17,345 banners/ boards,flex and hoardings have been removed after the model code was enforced on August 31.

He said no public gatherings would be allowed on roads or at junctions that would hamper traffic movement. Political parties are required to take permission 72 hours ahead of holding any public rally or gatherings at any of the grounds in the city. “No party will be allowed to assemble without permission,” he said.

While parties are allowed to use any number of vehicles for the campaigning,they would have to take prior permission,he said. “The parties have to take prior permission for displaying boards and banners too,” he said.

At a joint press meet,Superintendent of Police (rural) Pratap K Dighavkar and DCP (special branch) Ravindra Sengaonkar (city) said a preventive action plan has been put in place to counter any hurdles in the smooth conduct of the elections.

Dighavkar said 16 out of 21 assembly constituencies in the district fall under rural jurisdiction —10 of them fully and six partly. He said 899 non-bailable warrants have been executed in the last 15 days and 133 persons were externed. In the rural police stations,699 licenced weapons of people have been deposited of which 310 are firearms and 10,716 persons have been issued showcause notices under preventive measures.

“Those who have been booked for any offence in the last elections too have been issued orders,” he said. He said sector patrolling would be enforced under the preventive action plan. One constable will man each sector and will call the control room in case of any violence. Paramilitary forces will be alerted if the need arises. “Both CRPF and SRPF will be roped in under the plan,” he said.

In the city,14 constituencies are under the city police area —11 fully and three partly. DCP Sengaonkar said 173 weapons have been deposited with the city police. Three illegal firearms and 11 cartridges have been seized. As part of the preventive action,60 persons have been externed from the city police jurisdiction and 778 non-bailable warrants and 54 bailable warrants issued,he added.

The elections would also see negative vote coming into force. Dalvi said those who do not want to vote for any candidate can fill up the register declaring they do not want to vote. This is under 49 (O) of the Representation of People Act.

Lone nomination on Day 1

On the first day of filing of nominations,CPI (M) candidate Kiran Moghe filed her papers from Parvati Assembly constituency. She was the lone candidate to file nomination during the pitru pandhravada (remembering the dead forefathers) a period that has seen the main national parties keep away from making major announcements such as sharing of seats. She was the only candidate from the 21 constituencies in the district to file nomination papers.