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Arrangements in place for BMC polls

BHUBANESWAR: Activists of different political parties, election observers and police personnel on Monday played hide and seek as the penultimate day of election to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) witnessed hectic political activity.

Security was tightened in different localities, especially around slums from where reports of political parities resorting to bribing voters to win over them, were frequently coming.

The city police picked up at least 40 persons and finally registered cases against 27 of them for their alleged involvement in poll campaigning after 5 p.m. on Sunday last, the scheduled time to stop campaigning.

Political parties have been hurling accusations against each other for playing “dirty” tactics to garner support for December 2 BMC polls.

Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) alleged that Women and Child Development Minister Pramilla Mallick was caught while influencing voters by distributing money at Adhiakhal slum areas under ward No 51.

By the time police and election observer reached the spot, the Minister and the candidate reportedly fled the spot, OPCC charged, adding that police managed to arrest a leader of slum.

The Congress party said similar attempts were being made in Ward No.17 and other wards where ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had fielded its candidates.

City police had already deployed required force at different points to check the illegal means to influence voters. Addressing a press conference here, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Himanshu Lal said 14 platoons personnel of Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP), 17 Rapid Action Force platoons and several hundred armed police reserve (APR) personnel would be deployed to ensure that election passed off peacefully.

“This year we have arranged 37 mobile police parties for rushing them to troubled areas. Their response time would be 10 minutes only. One mobile party is expected to keep eye on approximately seven booths,” Mr. Lal said.

While BJD and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have fielded 60 candidates each for all the 60 wards, Congress has 57 candidates in the ensuing election.

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