Vidhan Sabha election preparations in final phase in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: Preparations for Vidhan Sabha election in Madhya Pradesh on November 25 entered the final phase. Chief Electoral Officer Shri Jaideep Govind held discussions and sought information from officers regarding election preparations here today. He directed all districts to ensure foolproof security arrangements.

Large number of companies of paramilitary forces and police personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polling in all 230 Vidhan Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh. Security personnel also conducted flag march in districts today. As many as 552 companies of Central Paramilitary Force, CRPF and Special Armed Police have been deployed in Madhya Pradesh. More companies will be deployed in trouble-prone areas. One helicopter each is undertaking aerial monitoring in Naxal-affected districts Balaghat and Singrauli since November 22. Madhya Pradesh has received 29 thousand 500 home guards from 6 other states for election security. Besides, 12 thousand 526 home guards of Madhya Pradesh will also be on poll duty. Madhya Pradesh’s police officers, head constables and constables numbering 51 thousand 283 will also be on poll duty. Besides, 91 companies of SAF and 59 thousand 740 special police officers have also been deployed.
There are 14 thousand 950 critical and remaining general polling booths in Madhya Pradesh. In the first phase, the state had received 5 companies from Haryana, 4 each companies of BSF and CRPF and 5 companies each from Tamil Nadu and Assam. In the second phase on November 15, total 25 companies were received from Bihar and Jharkhand, who are deployed in mobile patrolling and area domination. In the third phase on November 22, 500 companies arrived in Madhya Pradesh. Special Armed Forces/Central Police Force are being used for security of sensitive polling booths, mobile patrolling, sealing of inter-state borders etc. Since state borders 5 states, therefore, special care is being exercised there. Intense security arrangements have been made at border check posts to prevent movement of illegal weapons, liquor, funds and explosives at inter-state borders. Identified check posts have been made functional 72 hours before polling.
So far, 2 lakh 59 thousand 830 weapons have been got deposited from licence holders. As many as 46 thousand 959 non-bailable warrants have been issued under prohibitory arrangements. Under section 107/116 of CrPC, 2 lakh 6 thousand 525 persons have been taken into preventive custody and one lakh 93 thousand 573 persons have been bound over. Different monitoring teams have seized Rs. 9 crore 10 lakh 12 thousand 868 cash, country liquor worth Rs. one lakh 15 thousand 217 and 71 thousand 909 bottles of foreign liquor.
Apart from over 3.50 lakh officers and employees, about 2 lakh police personnel have also been deployed to conduct polls in Madhya Pradesh. All district collectors have been asked to send polling parties for polling booths so that they can reach their respective destinations necessarily a day before polling and make night halt over there. They have been asked to send certificates about departure of polling parties and their arrival at polling booths in prescribed proforma number 24 by 6.30 on November 24.
Communication plan
A better communication plan has been chalked out to receive minute-to-minute information about polling. Specialised staff has been posted at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer for communication plan. After start of polling at 8 am, information about poll percentage will be sent by all collectors to the CEO office every 2 hours. The first report will be sent from 8 to 10 am, second 10.15 am, third 12.15 pm, complete information till 4 pm and information about polling from 8 am till end will be sent compulsorily through telephone/e-mail/fax. Information regarding return of polling teams has also been sought in similar manner.
Arrangement of 2 screens has been made at the CEO office to display information regarding poll percentage. Besides, screens will also be installed at Bhopal-based Top & Town, New Market, Bittan Market, Piplani petrol pumps, Bairagarh main crossing, Peer Gate, Lal Ghati crossing, Bagh Sewaniya police station and DB Mall/Jyoti Cinema. Information regarding 2 thousand polling booths covered under webcasting can be seen at MCMC room at the CEO office. A link of it is being made on the websitewww.mp.nic.in so that common people can also view this. Besides, Rs. 5 thousand each has been sanctioned for android mobile to all returning officers. With this, they will be able to feed information through SMS or Skype to the CEO’s website. The CEO office has directed to send information regarding every communication plan prepared for every polling booth for poll-based monitoring system. During polling, contact will be made with concerning officers through mobile/telephone. In case of non-availability of other communication means in shadow areas, information will be received through wireless sets of the Police/Forest Departments. Rehearsal of the communication plan will also be undertaken a day before polling.
The CEO Office has also activated a control room to receive information on polling day through SMS, internet, telephone etc. under PBMS, information regarding mock pool, polling and EVM functioning will also be given. Links have also been made at webstie www.ceomadhyapradesh.nic.inand