A total of 1.51 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise to seal the fate of 12 candidates, in fray for Dhuri bypolls, by pushing the EVM buttons. All arrangements have been made for the by-election to Dhuri constituency which is slated for Saturday and likely to see a tough contest between the ruling SAD and Opposition Congress.
While the ruling SAD, which has fielded former minister Gobind Singh longowal from the seat, will be aiming absolute majority in the House with this win, the embattled Congress has described this by-poll as “beginning of the end of SAD-BJP combine”.Around 1,800 cops have been deployed at 166 polling booths for holding smooth and peaceful by-poll.
“About 166 polling booths have been set up and six battalions of military and para-military forces have been deployed to conduct smooth by election. The entire polling staff has also reached at Dhuri along with the required election material. As many as 766 officials have been posted on polling duty,” said the Chief Electoral Office’s spokesperson. He said that as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, adequate arrangements have also been made for the voters’ during the polling hours.
Giving further details, he said that out of the total voters, there are 80,561 male voters and 71,391 female voters in Dhuri constituency. The district and police administration has been asked to keep a close watch on the movements of anti-social elements in and around the polling booths. Dhuri SDM-cum-Returning Officer Rajesh Dhiman said that polling will start at 8 AM and go on till 5 PM.
Punjab Government has declared April 11 as a paid holiday in all shops and commercial establishments situated within the Dhuri Assembly constituency. The factories within the jurisdiction of Sangrur district, in which the Assembly segment falls, will also observe Saturday as a paid holiday. There will also be public holiday in all Government offices, corporations, boards and educational institutes in Sangrur district.