Mangaluru, May 28, 2015: There was some confusion during the mustering and de-mustering process which was held at the Padua school campus on May 28, Thursday in the wake of the May 29 Gram Panchayat elections.
The election duty officials who had arrived as directed at 8 am had to wait for over three and a half hours till 11.30 am without food and water at the Taluk Office which seemed quite congested for the large number of people. The ballot papers also arrived much later, much to the anguish of those present.
Many who were assigned election duty also arrived much behind schedule. According to the Additional Deputy Commissioner the vehicle carrying ballot papers reached quite late owing to the heavy traffic.
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim who was also present said all arrangements are complete for smooth election process and added the administration hopes to register a high voting percentage this time too. He further stated that security arrangements have been stepped up in sensitive areas.
The DC informed that there are a total of 880 polling booths of which 65 are located in Naxal affected areas, while 139 have been identified as super sensitive, 216 as sensitive and 460 as normal booths.
He informed that as many as 2000 police personnel will be on duty and added State Industrial Security Force will also be pressed into service.
A total of 61 mobile sector squads and 10 supervisory mobile squads will monitor the poll process which will be recorded.
The DC also stated that all schools, colleges, industries, government undertakings and offices in the areas where GP elections will be held will remain closed on May 29.
He further said that schools will reopen on June 1 instead of May 29 in the backdrop of the GP polls.