States pool poll resources

Gujarat Director-General of Police C P Singh says modalities are yet to be finalised.

More positive is A N Singh, Additional Director General Intelligence, Madhya Pradesh: The matter is almost in its final stage and there8217;s no scope of falling through, he says. 8220;We have proposals to loan about 500 policemen, but will require as many in return when our state goes to the polls8221;, he told Express Newsline from Bhopal. He said he hoped the Gujarat government would act 8220;generously8221;.

The arrangement will be need-based. Gujarat will not receive any assistance from Rajasthan or Maharashtra this time, unlike the last elections, because all three states go to the polls on the same day September 5. MP will vote on the subsequent three polling dates, hence the plan8217;s feasibility.

Both states suffer from a manpower problem in the border areas. Both Vadodara rural and Dahod districts have approximately 800 policemen to man the 1,000-odd booths each in Chhotaudepur constituency and Dahod. R P Bisone, Additional superintendent of Madhya Pradesh8217;s Jhabua district, says he has the same problem: about 800 men and 860 booths, of which 200-odd are sensitive.

Interestingly, the two border constituencies 8212; Chhotaudepur and Dahod 8212; are Congress bastions, while Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh is the seat of BJP tribal leader Dilipsinh Bhuria.