With a visibly strong and singular focus on insurgency-ridden terrains with their unique security requirements and the challenge of holding polls in remote and densely forested terrains, the Election Commission of India (EC) chose Bastar to singularly go to polls first in Chhattisgarh on April 10.
The EC in an apparent bid to keep fatigue away for the para-military and State police personnel had planned the deployments to enable free and fair polls in the insurgency-affected pockets requiring a higher level of vigil and precaution. “Polling in Bastar on April 10 will be followed by polls in Mahasamund, Kanker and Rajnandgaon seats on April 17 during the second phase,” Chhattigarh’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sunil Kujur informed reporters here.
The rest of the seven lok Sabha seats namely–Surguja, Raigarh, Janjgir–Champa , Raipur, Durg, Korba and Bilaspur will witness polling on April 24, the CEO said. He said that following announcement of poll schedules by the EC, the district election officers have been directed to implement the Model Code of Conduct in their respective regions with immediate effect.
Providing further details on poll schedule for Chhattisgarh, Kujur said that the Gazette notification for April 10 polling in the State will be issued on March 15, with the filing of the nominations to begin on the same day. The last date for filing nominations will be March 22 and subsequently scrutiny of the nomination papers will be completed on March 24, he said. The candidates can withdraw their nominations till March 26 before the first date of polling on April 10, the CEO informed.
Similarly, the notification for the April 17 polling will be issued on March 19. last date for filing nominations will be March 26 and scrutiny will be completed by the next day. The candidates can withdraw their nominations till March 29 following which the three constituencies will go to polls on April 17, he said. likewise, for the April 24 polling, the notification will be issued on March 29. last date of filing nominations will be April 5 and scrutiny will get completed on April 7. The candidates can withdraw their names by April 9.
Providing supplementary details, Kujur said that the total strength of the electorate in Chhattisgarh as on February 5, 2014 is 1,75, 29148 out of which 86,46,307 are females and 8881306 are male. There are 973 females per thousand males in the State with 99.24 per cent of the voters having the voter identity card.The total number of polling booths in the State is 21,424. he said.
The total number of vehicles to be required for the conduct of polls would be 4421 while number of Government employees stood at 2,33,000. The total number of polling staff required in Chhattisgarh is 11,0000, Kujur said. The total number of ‘Micro Observors’ to be required for the polls would be 6,900 besides 270 flying squad teams, 270 vigilance teams, 90 survelillance teams, 90 video surveillance teams and 90 Assistant Expenditure Account Observers, the CEO informed.
The category of 11 parliamentary constituencies are as follows-Bastar (ST), Rajnandgaon (GEN), Mahasamund (GEN), Kanker (ST), Surguja (ST), Raigarh (ST), Janjgir-Champa (SC), Korba (GEN), Bilaspur (GEN), Durg (GEN) and Raipur (GEN). Kujur also issued instructions that no photographs of any political entity shall be displayed at Government offices and its premises in State with the Model Code of Conduct now coming into effect.
He said that as per the instructions issued by Election Commission of India in year 2009, photos of political entities, Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Ministers Etc shall not be displayed in Government offices after imposition of the model code of conduct, as this may affect the voters at the time of elections. Kujur said that this restriction is not applicable on the photos of national leaders, poets, prominent historical figures, President and Governor.