DINDIGUL
Out of 2,097 polling stations in the district, 137 vulnerable and 148 critical stations have been identified, according to Collector T G Vinay.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, he said that the model code of conduct had been in force since Sunday and appealed to all the representatives of political parties to cooperate for the smooth conduct of the polling process.
With a whopping 10,385 staff on election duty, he said that all the 2,097 polling stations would be closely monitored by designated officers at different levels. For instance, there are 24 flying squads, 24 static surveillance teams, 16 video surveillance teams, eight video viewing teams, eight accounting teams and eight assistant expenditure observers.
An election control room has started functioning on the Collectorate campus and it would be manned by personnel round-the-clock. A designated number would be given shortly and public can lodge complaints and suggestions in the number. Assuring firm action against any violation, Dr Vinay said that the public can exercise their votes without any fear or favour. A number of awareness programmes were held and sensitisation camps would be held to ensure 100% voter turnout.
The district has 17,68,853 voters, including 8,66,715 men, 9,01,984 women and 154 others. In the recent special camps held, the officials have received 25,822 applications requesting to include their names in the voter list.
After a due verification by field officials, they would be taken in, he said and added that the district had enrolled 9,082 differently-abled persons in the voter list.
The Collector also presided over a meeting with the representatives of all political parties, a press release said.
