In high-stake Ambala constituency, die is cast

Nitin Jain
Tribune News Service
Ambala, May 11

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Polling in one of the most bitterly fought and high-stake general elections to the 17th Lok Sabha will be held in Ambala on Sunday amidst fear that sweltering heat may mar the voter turnout.

However, the administration and politicians are hopeful of heavy turnout in the wake of clear weather forecast for the next 24 hours.

A total of 18,46,727 voters, including 9,84,077 male, 8,62,620 female and 30 transgender, have the right to vote in the Ambala (Scheduled Caste) Reserved Lok Sabha constituency, which comprises 9 Assembly segments — Ambala Cantonment, Ambala City, Kalka, Panchkula, Naraingarh, Mullana, Sadhaura, Jagadhari and Yamunanagar — spread across 3 districts - Ambala, Panchkula and Yamunanagar.

Ambala City has the highest of 2,48,699 voters, including 1,30,689 male, 1,18,007 female and 3 transgender, while Kalka has the minimum of 1,71,036 electorates, including 90,704 male, 80,320 female and 12 transgender, among the 9 Assembly seats under this parliamentary constituency.

Though a total of 18 candidates are in the fray, two-time sitting MP Rattan Lal Kataria, 67, of the BJP and sitting Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister Kumari Selja, 56, of the Congress are poised for a direct close contest.

The district administrations have completed all arrangements for polling at 2,045 polling stations, including 287 hypersensitive and 257 sensitive, set up across the constituency at 7 am, which will continue till 6 pm.

Along with 4 companies of paramilitary and state armed forces, comprising 360 personnel, 2,500 Haryana Police cops are put on election duty in Ambala district.

All polling parties reached their respective polling booths in the entire constituency with EVMs.

Strict instructions have been given that no voter or representative or polling agent of any candidate or party will be allowed to use his or her mobile phone inside the polling station. Only presiding officers will be allowed to use their mobile phones, Returning Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Sharandeep Kaur Brar told The Tribune.

The borders of the Ambala Lok Sabha seat with Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have been sealed and police check-posts have been put up along the borders of all Assembly segments, Ambala SP Mohit Handa told The Tribune.

Slum colonies across the constituency have been kept under strict vigil to check the distribution of liquor, drugs and money for sale and purchase of votes.

Today, the candidates, who were busy till yesterday engaging senior leaders for their public meetings, went around with folded hands and plastic smiles as tiredness could be clearly seen on their faces.

Border sealed

panchkula: Dr Balkar Singh, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, while addressing the media, polling parties had been dispatched to polling booths for Lok Sabha elections to be held in assembly segments of Kalka and Panchkula. He said 82 buses had been arranged for polling parties to reach polling stations. Arrangements have been made to keep EVMs in store room at the counting centres.

He said along with security personnel, flying teams, zonal magistrate, super zonal magistrate and sector officer, would also monitor the voting process.

He said 1,808 presiding officers, additional presiding officers and polling officers had been deployed for polling. To monitor the voting process, 278 micro observers have been deployed on duty, besides 9 squad teams and 6 flying teams have also been deployed.

DCP Kamal Deep Goyal said about 1,500 personnel of the Haryana Police and paramilitary force would be deployed in the district for smooth polling in the district. He said 36 patrol parties would be deployed to monitor law and order situation in the urban and rural areas. All police station in-charge of the district would visit polling centres falling under their jurisdiction.

Goyal said border with the neighbouring states had also been sealed by setting up 22 barricades at the entry points.

Fate hangs in the balance

The fate of both MPs, Rattan Lal Kataria of the BJP and Kumari Selja of the Congress, who are facing each other for the third time, here, hangs in the balance. In a keenly fought electoral battle on issues of development, corruption and nationalism, the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress are having direct contest in Ambala.

Webcasting

As many as 117 polling centres have been set up for webcasting, of which 50 will be in Ambala district, 25 in Panchkula and 42 in Yamunanagar district. “The proceedings at these centres will be telecast live for the assistant returning officers concerned on the polling day while videography has been arranged at all 2,045 polling stations in the parliamentary constituency,” Sharandeep Kaur Brar said.

Identity proof must

Voter card is must for voters, who possess it. While those who does not possess voter cards, they must establish their identity through a ration card, employers’ ID card, driving licence, passport, bank passbook or PAN card.

Deployment of officers

As many as 80 zonal magistrates and 153 sector officers have been deputed in the constituency. Of the total deployment, 38 zonal magistrates and 66 sector officers have been put on duty in Ambala district, 13 zonal magistrates and 35 sector officers in Panchkula and 29 zonal magistrates and 52 sector officers have been deputed in Yamunanagar district.