Stage set for Dakha Assembly byelection

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 20

Keeping in view Dakha byelection scheduled on October 21, the district administration claims to have completed all arrangements. The electronic voting machines (EVMs) were handed over to the polling staff at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here today.

The District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner (DC), Ludhiana, Pradeep Kumar Agrawal, said, “There are 220 polling stations in Dakha Assembly constituency-68. As many as 1,84,306 general voters along with 780 service voters will exercise their right.”

“All voters have been provided identity cards and voter slips, besides poll parties for all the polling stations have been dispatched,” the DC added.

“To ensure that elections are conducted in a fair and peaceful manner, as many as 1,295 officials of the civil administration have been deputed along with adequate number of security personnel from the Punjab Police as well as Central para-military forces,” the DC said.

“Voters will be able to cast their vote with 11 alternative identity proofs during the upcoming Vidhan Sabha byelection,” the DC added.

“Those who do not have elector’s photo identity card (EPIC), also called voter ID card, can exercise their franchise using alternative documents, including Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence, service ID cards with photograph issued by Central or state governments or public sector undertakings, bank or post office passbooks with photographs, besides PAN, MGNREGA job and smart cards, issued under scheme of the Labour Department, health insurance smart card, pension documents and identity proof issued to the MP/MLA,” the DC said.

The election for the Dakha byelection is scheduled for October 21.

“The Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab, has declared dry day in all the constituencies going to polls on October 21. Dry day has been declared in Dakha constituency of Ludhiana district from 6 pm on October 19 till 6 pm on October 21 and for complete day on October 24,” the DC added.

“Dry day will remain enforced in areas falling within radius of 3 km from the Dakha Vidhan Sabha constituency. The district administration is committed for holding the byelection with full transparency, fairness and without any bias. The counting of votes will be done at a college in Sudhar on October 24,” the DC said.