A total of 30 candidates will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls on April 24, District Election Officer S.B. Deepak Kumar told reporters here on Wednesday.
As many as seven are from recognised national and State parties, four are from registered parties that are not recognised here and 19 are Independent candidates. None of the candidates from political parties withdrew their candidature, Mr. Kumar said.
Additional electronic voting machines would be procured to accommodate all the candidates in fray. Each EVM would have symbols of 16 candidates, so two EVMs would be needed. Even in the last elections, two EVMs were needed as 26 candidates contested. An additional 10 per cent EVMs would be kept as reserved in Puducherry and 30 per cent in Mahe and Yanam, he said.
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A total of 68 areas in Puducherry and nine in Karaikal have been declared sensitive. Over 120 polling booths are located in these areas. They would be manned by the Central Paramilitary Forces in addition to the regular police.
Three more companies of Central Paramilitary Forces would arrive in Puducherry for the smooth conduct of polls. Already, four companies have arrived here and been posted in various locations across the Union Territory.
On the day of polling, there would be real time monitoring of all the polling stations and arrangements have been made for webcasting the process. The website to view the polling in various booths would be advertised by the Election Commission soon.
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Through the control rooms and 1950 helpline, a total of 114 complaints have been registered in Puducherry. FIRs have been registered in 43 cases of violation of the model code of conduct. Of the 43 cases, 15 pertained to violation of the Puducherry Open Places (Prevention of Defacement) Act.
A total sum of Rs. 19,75,155 was seized, and, after proper documents for Rs. 9,75,185 were produced, the money was returned to the owners.