457 polling stations vulnerable

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 22

Based on the past record and inputs from the intelligence wing of the police, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has identified 457 polling stations as vulnerable to violence in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection.

As many as 83 polling stations have been listed as ‘critical’, acting CEO MS Narang told The Tribune.

The poll office has sought a list of potential troublemakers identified by the police, which will be communicated to the assistant returning officers.

Narang said, “We have earmarked 1,781 polling stations. Special care has been underlined for 23 ‘shadow area polling stations’, which are not easily connected to the main election office due to their location.”

The number of voters has been put at 15.17 lakh, including 7.09 lakh women. The constituency has 14 transgender voters.

Sources said polling at 180 booths would be telecast live through webcasting to the office of the CEO and the office of the Chief Election Commissioner, New Delhi.

Besides 20 companies of paramilitary forces approved by the Union Home Ministry for deployment, the state has a pool of 10 companies at its disposal for the byelection, Narang said.