Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 18
All arrangements have been made for the Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held on Sunday. A total of 1,721 polling stations have been set up and around 14,750 officials from the civil administration are on duty in Ludhiana parliamentary constituency. The voting would be held from 7 am to 6 pm.
To ensure that polling is carried out in a peaceful manner, adequate number of police and paramilitary forces has been deployed. The polling staff was given EVMs and VVPAT machines before they rushed to the respective polling stations.
District Election Officer-cum-DC Ludhiana, Pradeep Kumar Agrawal on Saturday appealed to residents to exercise their right to vote in a free and fair manner to strengthen democracy.
“All preparations for the elections have been completed. The district administration is committed for conducting these elections in a free, fair and transparent manner. During the entire process, no political party or candidate would be allowed to violate the code of conduct and the ECI guidelines,” he said.
The total number of voters in Ludhiana district (including five Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Fatehgarh Sahib Parliamentary constituency) is 25,75,448. Voter slips and voter cards have been distributed to voters, he said.
He said if any voter takes cash in lieu of vote or if any candidate/ political party offers cash to voters, then an FIR under Section 178 B can be registered against them. Similarly, if any person threatens a voter in lieu of vote, then an FIR under Section 171 C would be initiated. If any person is found guilty of any election related violation, then he/she would be guilty of Section 127 A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, and suitable action as per law would be taken against them.
- Officials on poll duty: 14,750
- Polling stations: 1,721
- Timing: 7 am-6 pm
- Total voters 16,80,953
- Females: 7,79,569
- Males: 9,01,313
- Third gender: 71
Facilities for persons with disability
- There will be a provision for ramp at polling stations to facilitate persons with disabilities.
- Volunteers, whose age is less than 18 years, would be deployed to manage voters’ queue and to assist persons with disabilities.
- Creche facility would be provided for children accompanying electors.
Sakhi Polling stations
Sakhi polling stations have been set up in different Vidhan Sabha constituencies. All election staff, including police personnel, deputed at Sakhi polling station would be women. These have been set up at AS College for Women, Khanna; Government Senior Secondary School, Samrala; USPC Jain Public School, Focal Point, Ludhiana; JN Public School, Gobindpuri, Ludhiana; Spring Dale Senior Secondary School, Sherpur Kalan, Ludhiana; Atam Public School, Ludhiana; Shanti Niketan Adarsh Vidhalaya Primary Section, Ludhiana; Saint Bawra Public High School at New Lajpat Nagar; Joint Chief Controller for Import and Export Green Field Ludhiana; Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana; Government Senior Secondary School, Tharikee; Government Elementary School, Kotla Afgana in Payal; Government Primary School, Kothe Hans; Central Cooperative Bank, Raikot and Government Senior Secondary School (Girls), Jagraon.