Campaigning for the Shahkot Assembly bypoll ended on Saturday and all necessary arrangements have been made for the polling which will be held on Monday, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer S. Karuna Raju said.
Asserting that the Election Commission is committed to holding fair and peaceful election in Shahkot Assembly constituency, he said 25 teams have been formed to ensure no person — including political functionaries and party workers — who is not an elector in the constituency stays in Shahkot after campaigning ends.
“These teams will check hotels, community halls, guesthouses and other places to find out the outsiders,” Mr. Raju said, adding check-posts have been set up in the constituency borders to track vehicle movements from outside Shahkot.
He said 1,72,676 voters will decide the fate of 12 candidates in fray. Voting will start at 7 a.m. on May 28 and will go on till 6 p.m. Counting of votes will be held on May 31.
Of the 236 polling stations in the constituency, webcasting will be done at 103 stations. As many as 1,416 polling staff, 1,022 Punjab police and Border Security Force personnel, and 80 micro observers have been deputed in Shahkot, he said.
CEO Raju said EVMs and VVPATs will be deployed at all polling stations and 15% additional EVMs have been kept in reserve in case some machines malfunction during polling.
CM’s roadshow
Senior Congress leader and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh attended a roadshow on the last day of campaigning for the bypoll and held the Shiromani Akali Dal responsible for “total lack of development” in the constituency represented by it for the last 14 years. He said in contrast, the Congress had in just 14 months brought development back on track across the State.
Exuding confidence that Congress candidate Hardev Singh Laddi would win the by-election with a sweeping mandate, he said the momentum for a clear and resounding victory had been built over the past few days by the party.
Capt. Singh said that he had announced infrastructure development projects worth ₹113 crore for Shahkot in March this year and promised the people that his government would continue to invest in their welfare.
According to the SAD’s demand, CRPF personnel have been deployed for the election and now the opposition will have no excuse for their defeat in the polls, the Chief Minister told reporters during the five-hour-long roadshow.
The Shahkot bypoll was necessitated following the demise of MLA Ajit Singh Kohar. Congress has fielded Mr. Laddi while the SAD has given the ticket to Kohar’s son Naib Singh Kohar. The Aam Aadmi Party has nominated Rattan Singh Kakkar Kalan for the bypoll.
