Kendrapara: As the Model Code of Conduct came into force Sunday and as the notification for the 2019 general elections is going to be issued next week, the district administration has geared up its machinery to ensure that the elections are free and fair, said the Collector–cum-District Election Officer, Dasarathi Satapathy.
The Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency has seven Assembly segments. Of this, five are in Kendrapara and two in Cuttack district. Elections will be held here April 29 in the fourth phase.
The five Assembly constituencies in Kendrapara district are Aul, Patkura, Rajnagar and Mahakalapada. The other two Assembly seats in Cuttack district are Mahanga and Salipur.
Around 11,79,902 voters of Kendrapara are going to vote in the general elections in the five Assembly seats of Kendrapara district. The number of male voters is 6,22,050, and that of females 5,57,797.
Voting will be conducted in 1,438 polling stations in the district. Around 1,438 Booth Level Officers, 140 Supervisors and 143 Sector Officers and police officials have been appointed in the five Assembly seats of the district.
The district has 1,745 service voters and 11,404 voters with physical disabilities.
Around 18,591 voters have been added in Form-6, 1,302 voters in Form-7 and 1,831 voters in Form-8 and 38 voters in Form-8 (A) from January 21, 2019 to March 10, 2019, said the Collector.
The district administration has identified 143 booths as critical in the five Assembly seats of Kendrapara district. Webcasting would be carried out in 143 booths and 28 booths would be under CCTV surveillance. Micro observers would be engaged in 70 booths and 34 booths would get videography facilities in the district.
The district administration has arranged ramps, drinking water, furniture, waiting room/shade facilities and toilets in 1,438 polling stations in all the five Assembly seats. Electricity supply has been arranged in 1,429 polling stations.
The district administration has also made elaborate arrangements in the six booths located in inaccessible pockets of the district.
A 24X7 call centre has been established at the district control room, and it will be functional from the date of announcement of elections. The toll free phone number of the call centre is 1590. The public can inform corrupt election practices at this number.
A senior officer will be the in-charge of the control room and call centre. He will be responsible for recording complaints and passing them on to officers concerned or the flying squad.
The PD (DRDA) has been appointed as the nodal officer of the Model Code of Conduct.
The Model Code of Conduct is applicable to political parties, government officials and candidates. As the nominations of candidates have not started, the Model Code of Conduct is now applicable only to political parties and government officials.
The District Election Officer has instructed all senior officials of the department not to sign any new work orders from Tuesday until the election process is over May 27.
Meanwhile, he has directed all Executive Engineers not to allow any political leaders to stay in Circuit Houses, Inspection Bungalows and guest houses till the Model Code of Conduct is lifted.
He has also directed the DFO of Rajnagar not to allow any leaders to make night halts in forest guest houses. If tourists want to book rooms for the night then their IDs have to be verified. All circuit houses, Inspection Bungalows and guest houses are under the control of the Collector.
After the coming into force of the Model Code of Conduct, the district administration has started removal of hoardings, posters and banners that violate the code Monday. This is expected to be completed by Tuesday evening.
The district administration Tuesday organised an all-party meeting at the Collectorate in connection with the elections, and asked the parties not to violate the Code.
PNN
