At least 30, 53,279 votes were cast during mock polls at 25,493 polling stations in Jharkhand on road to the 17th General Elections, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) L Khiangte said on Tuesday.
Besides, a total of 20,118 Chunav Pathshalas were held in the state till Sunday, he added. Chunav Pathshalas are platforms to engage the community members, mainly in rural areas, through interesting activities and hands on experience for sensitization on electoral rights and the electoral process of registration and voting.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that his team has taken several initiatives to spread awareness about the polls in Jharkhand. Locally prepared jingles, video clips and advertisements were being uploaded regularly on the social media accounts of the CEO and all the District Election Officers (DEOs).
Also, total of 1476 mobile vans displaying EVM-VVPAT screens plied across cities since the announcement of elections.
Khiangte told the media on Tuesday that at least 20 major cases related to the violation of Model Code of Conduct were reported from Jharkhand and First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged against 16 offenders.
According to figures with the Election Commission of India (ECI), a majority of cases were related to playing loudspeakers without permission, posting sensitive content of social media, writing slogans on walls and hoisting party flags in public places.
“At least 197 complaints were lodged through the cVigil App in Jharkhand and 54 of them were found to be correct,” said Khiangte, adding that nine cVigil complaints could not be addressed on time.
Khinagte will hold a meeting with Deans and Registrars of all the universities on Thursday at his office in a bid to ensure students’ participation in the elections. The CEO’s office will also hold an orientation camp for campus ambassadors of all the districts in the first week of April.
He said on Tuesday that out of the 29464 polling stations in Jharkhand, 28345 have ramp facility, 28970 have drinking water facility, 28980 have toilets, 27,641 have sheds and 24826 have electricity connection.
Volunteers from National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme and Bharat Scouts and Guides who have not attained the age of 18 years will be deployed at polling stations, so the ones above the age of 18 can exercise their franchise, Khiangte added.
Jharkhand will vote for the 14 Lok Sabha seats here in the fourth phase of elections starting April 29. Polling here will conclude on May 19.