All set for Super Sunday finale in poll ring

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 18

Bathinda parliamentary constituency is set for direct battle as Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) takes on Amarinder Singh Raja Warring of the Congress in a tough contest on May 19. The district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the polling to be held on Sunday. The electronic voting machines (EVM) were distributed today at PESCO and IHM at the Growth Centre in Bathinda and polling parties were dispatched for their respective destinations today.

As many as 1,729 polling parties left for polling booths in the Bathinda constituency today. The polling staff includes 9,238 persons, including presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers. Apart from them, 765 micro observers and 163 supervisors have also been deputed on poll duty.

Booth level officers will issue voting slips to the voters. The voting will be held from 7 am to 6 pm. A total of 2,198 Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines would be installed in 1,729 polling stations in the constituency. Webcasting would be done at 936 booths in the constituency.

The polling parties braved heat while collecting electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other election-related material. Medical kits are being provided to the polling staff at the booths to meet any emergency.

More than 6,000 police personnel, including 18 companies of paramilitary forces, have been deployed for the smooth conduct of the polls and the interstate border has been sealed. Eleven companies have been deployed in Bathinda and 7 in Mansa district. Apart from the Punjab Police, commandos and paramilitary forces have been deployed at sensitive areas in the constituency. Licensed weapons have also been deposited by the residents at the police station or with arms dealers.

District Election Officer (DEO) B Srinivasan said the Bathinda constituency has a total of 16.13 lakh voters, which includes 85,3501 men, 76,0095 women and 20 transgender voters. Apart from this, there are 12 NRI voters and 8,055 service voters.

The District Election Office has declared six polling booths as model booths and six as Pink Sakhi polling booths in the district. Two polling booths in each of the six Assembly segments have been declared as model booths and Pink Sakhi polling booths in the district. In Bathinda Urban, Guru Nanak School located on 100 -feet road has been made a model booth. Model polling booths have the facilities for drinking water and toilets for the voters.

Voting from 7 am to 6 pm

• Bathinda Lok Sabha seat consists of nine assembly segments: Lambi, Bhucho, Bathinda Urban, Bathinda Rural, Talwandi Sabo, Maur, Mansa, Sardulgarh and Budhlada
• A total of 1,729 polling booths have been set up, of which 580 booths termed sensitive
• 18 companies of paramilitary forces deployed for smooth conduct of elections
• Six model booths and six Pink Sakhi polling booths in district. Model booths have facilities for drinking water and toilets for voters
• Voters will not be allowed to carry their mobile phones within a 100 meter radius of polling stations on the day of voting