8.42L voters to decide fate of 36 candidates in Ambala today

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ambala, October 20

The district administration and politicians are hopeful of heavy voter turnout in the Assembly elections to be held in Ambala tomorrow.

A total of 8,42,852 voters, including 1,96,001 in Ambala Cantonment, 2,53,443 in Ambala City, 2,12,557 in Mullana and 1,80,850 in Naraingarh, have the right to vote in the four Assembly seats of Ambala district. These include 5,632 disabled and 4,194 service voters. As many as 908 polling booths at 509 locations have been set up for polling.

Though a total of 36 candidates are in the fray, but the ruling BJP, the Congress and the rebels are poised for a triangular close contest.

The district administration has completed all arrangements to start polling at 7 am, which will continue till 6 pm. To ensure free, fair and peaceful polling, as many as 44 duty magistrates and 66 sector officers have been deployed.

Along with Indian Reserve Battalion, state armed forces and the Haryana police are put on election duty in Ambala district.

All parties reached their respective polling booths in the entire constituency with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) after checks and rechecks.

The polling parties were dispatched in buses with election material.

Strict instructions have been given that no voter or representative or polling agent of any candidate or political 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 Ashok Kumar Sharma told said.

The borders of Ambala district 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. Vehicles entering or leaving the constituency are being checked by paramilitary and state armed forces to establish the identity of travellers as the ECI has directed that only voters would be allowed to stay in their constituencies, Ambala SP Abhishek Jorwal said.

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

Political fate hangs in the balance

The political fate of 36 candidates, including Health Minister Anil Vij, sitting BJP MLA Aseem Goel, former Minister Nirmal Singh, former MLAs Jasbir Singh and Rajbir Singh hangs in balance.

In a keenly fought electoral battle on issues of development, corruption and nationalism, the ruling BJP, the Opposition Congress and the rebels are having triangular contest in Ambala.

Foolproof arrangements

To ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of the Assembly elections, as many as 44 duty magistrates and 66 sector officers have been deputed in Ambala district.

ID proof must

Voter card is a must for the voters, who possess it, while a very few, who does not possess it, must establish their identity through a ration card, employers ID card, driving licence, passport, bank passbook or PAN card at the time of casting a vote. The Electricity Department will ensure uninterrupted power supply at all polling stations.

Figures at glance

Total candidates 36
Women candidates 2
Assembly segments 4

Voter break-up

Ambala City 2,53,443
Ambala Cantonment 1,96,001
Naraingarh 1,80,850
Mullana 2,12,557