Hailakandi administration gears up for free and fair elections

Feb.28: The Hailakandi district administration has pulled out all stops to ensure free and fair elections to three Assembly constituencies that will will go to polls in the second phase on April 1.

At a meeting convened by the district administration with media persons and representatives of political parties at DC’s conference hall here on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer, Megh Nidhi Dahal said the administration is geared up to ensure free and fair Assembly elections to three constituencies of Hailakandi, Algapur and Katlicherra.

Disclosing information on the preparations being made for smooth conduct of elections, Dahal said special arrangements would be made for persons with disabilities (PwDs), 80 plus voters and COVID-19 patients under quarantine so that they could cast their votes. There are 3,954 80 plus voters and 5,182 PwDs. Dahal said the district has been divided into nine zones comprising 62 sectors for smooth conduct of the polls.

The administration has identified 57 polling stations as ‘critical’. There is no vulnerable village or hamlet. However, the administration will carry out further assessment. There are altogether 656 main polling stations and 55 auxiliary stations.

The total electorate of the district is 4,97,450 out of which 2,37,898 are female voters. There are only 12 ‘D’ voters in the district. For lodging election related complaints, anyone can dial toll free No.1950.

Additional SP, Kulendra Nath Deka, who was also present, revealed that a proposal has been placed for deployment of 36 additional companies of security forces for conduct of the elections in a peaceful manner. Deka also said that plans are on the anvil to bolster security in 45 polling stations located in remote areas where there is no internet connectivity and to provide satellite phones to polling personnel. District Development Commissioner, Ranajeet Kumar Laskar said the entire election exercise will be conducted by strictly observing the COVID-19 protocols.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Narendra Kumar Shah appealed to the people of the district to extend full support and cooperation to the administration for peaceful conduct of polls.