Malkangiri: Polling for the three-tier Panchayat elections will commence in the district from Wednesday (February 16). Taking into account, a couple of poll-related acts of violence executed by the left wing extremists (LWEs), the police have tightened security all across the district.
There are total 264 polling booths in 19 Gram Panchayats where voting process will be carried out. There are total 70,475 voters who will cast their ballots on Wednesday. There are around 80 aspirants for the post of Sarpanch for 19 GPs, and 59 candidates for the post of Member of Panchayat Samitis.
Voting will be done for 3 Zilla Parishads – for Zone 1 there are 4 aspirants, Zone 2 – four candidates, and 7 contestants in Zone 3. Each polling booth will be manned by 3 polling officials who will be provided with adequate security personnel, the police said.
All polling parties have arrived at the booths and taken up their responsibilities as per the guidelines of the State Election Commission. Special attention is being given to the booths close to the Chhattisgarh border which are vulnerable to violence by Maoists, said Bal Mukund Bhuyan, Election Observer (Project Director, District Rural Development Authority).
