Punjab To Have Over 9,200 Polling Stations

From Our Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, May 14 – All arrangements for ensuring smooth and trouble-free polling in Punjab on June 12 next have been completed.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Mr Navjivan Khosla, there will be more than 9,200 polling stations, each of them covering between 700 and 1,200 voters. The number of voters in the State has gone up by 7 lakh since the Lok Sabha elections nearly two months ago, he said in a television interview telecast tonight.

Part VI Election series :  Punjab Assembly Elections — 1977

• Anti-Emergency wave drowns Congress
• Badal Sworn In As Chief Minister
• 15 Punjab Ministers Sworn In
• PLUMS OF OFFICE-Editorial on June 28, 1977
• Haryana, Punjab to go to polls on June 12
• Zail Singh not to contest
• Mrs. Gandhi Not to Go Campaigning
• Ignoring Of Women In Punjab List Regrettable -CHANDRA SHEKHAR
• Punjab To Have Over 9,200 Polling Stations
• Akali Bid to win over Independents
• Results on June 14
• Polling In Low Key In Punjab
• Punjab goes to poll today
• Badal Outlines Austerity Steps
• Akalis On Verge Of Absolute Majority

He said the ink mark on voters would be made on the second finger of the left hand as the mark on the first finger for the Lok Sabha elections had not yet faded. But in the case of Assembly constituencies falling in the Ferozepore, Parliamentary constituency, the ink mark would be made on the third finger as the second finger was also spotted in the repoll. The Chief Electoral Officer said that after the polling, ballot boxes would be carried in vehicles accompanied by police guard. The candidates or their representatives would be allowed to accompany the vehicles carrying the ballot boxes. They would also be allowed to keep their men at the building in which the ballot boxes would be stored till the date of counting.

The counting of votes would start on the morning of June 14 next. The Assistant Returning Officers would conduct the counting of their respective constituencies. The results would be announced by the evening of the same day. About 38,000 Government employees would be deputed on election duty.

Mr Khosla assured the electorate that their votes would be secret and no candidate could come to know about the number of votes polled by him from a particular booth. He said he was well aware of the consciousness of the people of Punjab and hoped that they would remain fully vigilant in the Assembly elections.

The Home Secretary, Mr R P Ojha, who was also interviewed by Doordarshan said that the comprehensive police arrangements would be made at village, tehsil and district levels as were done during the Lok Sabha poll. All police stations in the State would be directly in touch with the distinct and State headquarters through wireless. The reserve police force and PAP would be kept ready at district range and at IG’s level to meet any emergency. In all 17,000 policemen and 19,000 home guards would be deputed on election duty.