The district-level election code of conduct monitoring committee has received petitions seeking protection for booth agents of candidates.
District election officials involved in the committee that reviews violations of the election code of conduct in the district are considering measures to ensure protection of the booth agents of the candidates. Complaints of election malpractices in polling booths here often relate to incidents of attacks on the booth agents by workers of rival parties and to threats to prevent the booth agent from sitting in his booth.
Additional District Magistrate O. Mohammed Aslam said that the committee has so far received 11 such petitions. He said that the petitions had been handed over to the departments concerned, including the police and the Panchayat Department. Their feedback will be taken into account for taking the necessary measures, he said. The petitions mostly raised law and order issues in the areas that warranted provision of special protection for political workers serving as booth agents for candidates. The district administration and the police have already said that special arrangements, including live webcasting, had been planned in sensitive booths in the district.
