252 booths identified as vulnerable in Villupuram

33 flying squads formed in the district

In poll mode: District Election Officer and Collector L. Subramanian, second from left, told an an all-party meeting in Villupuram on Monday that 4,378 VVPATs have been kept ready in the district.

As many as 252 of the 3,234 polling stations in Villupuram district have been identified as critical and vulnerable. Web cameras will be installed in all these booths, said District Election Officer and Collector L. Subramanian here.

Speaking to reporters after chairing an all-party meeting at the Collectorate, he said that 161 booths had been identified as critical and 91 as vulnerable in the two Lok Sabha constituencies in the district. In addition to web cameras and polling personnel, 304 micro observers would be deployed in all these booths to monitor the polling process.

The last date for filing nominations is March 26. Scrutiny of nominations will be taken up on March 27 and the last date for withdrawal is March 29.

As per the Election Commission’s guidelines, 33 flying squads and 33 static surveillance teams had been constituted to check poll code violations. Each team will be headed by an official in the rank of Executive Magistrate and four police personnel. The teams will be entrusted with different tasks of observing, recording, and monitoring the expenditure of parties and candidates.

Accounting and video surveillance teams had been constituted to monitor the election expenditure of candidates. The teams comprise videographers, audit personnel for surveillance and policemen and officers in flying squads.

As many as 8,119 ballot units, 4,383 control units and 4,378 VVPATs required for the two Lok Sabha constituencies in the district have been kept ready.

Special campaign

Mr. Subramanian said a special campaign would be launched to educate the locals and college students on the importance of voting. A voter’s helpline has been set up. Information on polling booths can be obtained by dialling the helpline number 1950 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

As per the final electoral roll, the total number of voters in Villupuram district is 26,65,928 including 13,36,175 men, 13,29,373 women and 380 persons belonging to the third gender. Superintendent of Police S. Jayakumar and District Revenue Officer R. Priya were present.