Bhubaneswar: A total of 10 candidates finally remained in the fray for the Padampur bypoll after one candidate withdrew from the race on the last date of withdrawal of nominations.
A total of 13 candidates had filed their nominations for the bypoll as on the last date for filling nominations. In the process of scrutiny, candidature of two candidates were rejected.
Addressing a presser here today Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Odisha Sushil Kumar Lohani informed that ballot paper will be printed on this list of contesting candidates.
There is braille ballot facility for visually challenged voters and postal ballot facility for absentee voters like flagged PwDs, Senior citizen above 80 + years who have opted for Postal Ballot.
Lohani said that polling this time will be held from 7 AM to 4 PM only as was done during 2019 elections.
Here are the other details shared by the CEO with regard to Padampur bypoll:
E-Roll & Polling Station:
As on the last date of nomination, there are: Total Voters- 2,57, 474
- Male 1,29,497 / Female 1,27,965, TG 12
- Service Voters=199
Polling booths
- Total Polling Stations-319,
- The nomenclature of 306 Booths has been changed due to a change in name of the schools where the booths are located.
- No change in Booth location.
Special Provision for Absentee Voters in Category of PwD and 80+ Senior Citizen
Option in Form 12 D for voting through Postal Ballot issued to all absentee 6951 voters.
- Above 80 years-4393
- PWD-2558
- Options have been collected from the voters.
- Total of 284 such voters have opted for Voting through Postal Ballot.
- 11 Polling parties comprising two polling officers, one micro observer, one video person and one security personnel will be visiting the voters along with the voting compartment and other stationaries w.e.f. 24th November 2022 for collecting the postal ballot.
- The time and route of the polling parties will be intimated to the candidate for making available their representative if any to watch the proceeding.
- Once the Postal Ballots are issued, these types of voters cannot vote in the Polling Stations meant for general voters. The marked copy of the electoral roll with the Presiding Officers will have PB marked against their names in the electoral roll.
EVM & VVPATs:
General Voters will vote in the Polling Stations in the EVM like in earlier Bye Elections this time also M3 EVM and VVPATs of ECIL Make are being used. 1st randomization of the EVM VVPATs has been completed.
Dispersal of Polling Parties will be from the RMC Ground of Padampur, Bargarh adjoining the EVM Warehouse on P-2 Days i.e. 3rd December 2022.
The 1st round of training of the Polling Officials (Presiding and 1st Polling Officers) deployed has been completed.
MCC & Law & Order:
Model Code of Conduct is in force since 05th November 2022. Violations like defacement of public property are being set right, posters and banners are being seized. Number of cases recorded on wall paintings, posters, banners etc. comes under public property is 2058 nos. Number of defacement cases recorded as on date is 477.
36 licensed arms have been deposited.
579 persons have been bound down under Preventive Sections of CRPC.
104 Non-Bailable Warrants have been executed. The Surveillance Teams are fully active in the Constituency area and important checkpoints of the district.
Excise enforcement is also going on. 114 cases have been lodged 74 persons arrested and seizure of excise items IMFL, Beer, vehicles, etc. of value Rs.59,44,610 has been made.
Dry day has been declared in the district from 48 hours prior to the day of the poll i.e. 4.00 PM of 3rd December to 4.00 PM of 5th December and on the day of counting i.e. 8th December 2022.
Paid Holiday- The day of the poll has been declared as paid holiday for voters of the Assembly Constituency.
74 Vulnerable (L.W.E. affected) booths & 78 sensitive booths have been identified. 09 companies of CPF have been proposed (05 Cos. Already reported) for the Assembly Constituency along with sufficient state police i.e. 41 platoons have also been deployed to maintain law and order.
Webcasting will be done in 160 no of booths i.e. 50% of the total number of booths.
98 Micro Observers deployed in the critical and sensitive booths till now.
Election Observers:
General Observer: Manavendra Pratap singh, mobile no. 9040283949
Expenditure Observer: D. M. Ramprasad Gupta, mobile no. 6372441210
Police Observer: Hemant Chouhan, mobile no 9040283936
The observers are available in PWD IB Padampur from 10 AM to 11 AM daily.
Lohani further said that no COVID restrictions have been prescribed by Election Commission of India.
