The Election Commission on Monday appointed 227 micro observers in the Shahkot Assembly constituency for the May 28 bypoll.
“All arrangements for the bypoll have been completed and 283 presiding officers, 1,133 polling officers, 19 counting micro observers, 17 counting supervisors and 17 assistant counting supervisors have been deputed in the constituency,” said an official statement.
4,000 officials
It added that nearly 4,000 officials and employees and a total of 307 teams have been deputed for the smooth conduct of the election.
The Shiromani Akali Dal, however, has demanded the deployment of an independent team directly from the Election Commission to function as a high-powered task force for the bypoll.
“Mere appointment of an election observer will not suffice in view of the nefarious designs of the ruling party [Congress] which is hell-bent on rigging the poll,” said Daljeet Singh Cheema, senior vice-president of the Akali Dal, in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner.
The SAD has also demanded a complete and comprehensive video recording of the entire voting process at every polling booth in Shahkot.
‘Grave fear’
Dr. Cheema alleged that the State machinery, including the bureaucracy and the police, is functioning virtually like the Congress party’s electioneering team. “We have grave fears that the State government would not allow a free and fair election,” he added.
