THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Nov 12: 13 polling parties took to local passenger train to reach their respective polling stations in Latehar district in the ‘P minus 2 strategy’.
Latehar District Election Officer cum Deputy Commissioner Utkarsh Gupta told this correspondent late Monday night, “Our 13 polling parties went by a local passenger train to reach their respective booths.”
Latehar district is one such district where it uses all the modes of transportation. It’s by rail, air and road!
Here it’s a train journey in Latehar district. Local train is the choice. The polling parties travel like any other passenger. No one likes to talk about EVM etc in the compartment of the train so as not to draw any unkind attention.
Then there is helidropping. Utkarsh Gupta said, “There have been 65 helidroppings for the polling parties to conduct November 13 voting in Latehar’s two assembly constituencies.”
Again, the massive bulk of the polling parties travel by road. All the movement of the polling parties is in strict accordance with the SoP as laid down by the security set-up.
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679 polling parties for Latehar
A fleet of 679 polling parties will be conducting the polls here in Latehar district on November 13.
Polling parties have been cautioned by the Latehar DC to refrain from involving themselves in any political discourse during the entire stretch of their sign-on till sign-off of the poll duties, said sources.
Polling parties have been asked to focus and concentrate on their poll tasks and duties only.
The rolling out in two days advance is a strategic and safety tactical move.
‘P minus 2 strategy’, election day precautions and voter assistance
The ‘P minus 2 strategy’ is a two-day advance reaching of the polling parties at the intermediate strong room (ISR) to get accustomed to the rough and tough terrain there for a smooth, fair and peaceful conduct of the voting scheduled for the date notified earlier by the ECI.
Further, the advance polling party stays in the ISR with the first unpolled EVM and after the voting is over with the polled EVM. Their movement is under extreme guard by the security forces.
Latehar administration is demarcating 200 metres at every polling booth where polling agents of the candidates can have their small tentage with one table and two chairs all for the purpose of the help of the voters. There has to be just one political banner.
The lime line is being used to keep away any help desk of the contestants like this within the ambit of the polling booth within a 200-meter radius.
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Utkarsh Gupta told this correspondent, “There are 45 booths in Latehar district where the polling hour on November 13 is 7 am to 4 pm only.”
Gupta said, “Latehar administration has been making a passionate appeal to all the voters to vote without any fear of anything.”
