Maval Lok Sabha Constituency Election Preparations Completed, Says Election Returning Officer
Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Maval, 11th May 2024: Election Returning Officer of Maval Lok Sabha Constituency, Deepak Singla, stated that voting for the Maval Lok Sabha Constituency will take place on Monday, 13th May, and all necessary preparations have been completed for the Lok Sabha General Election. The electoral system is fully prepared to conduct the voting process in a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful environment.
He made these remarks during a press conference held at the Office of the Election Returning Officer in Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Akurdi, to inform the media about the preparations for voting in the Lok Sabha elections.
Present at the conference were Assistant Superintendent of Police (Lonavala division) Satya Sai Karthik, ACP Satish Mane, Election Coordination Officers Praveen Thackeray, Himmat Kharade, Abhijit Jagtap and Assistant Returning Officer Sachin Maske.
Singla provided detailed information on various aspects concerning the Maval Lok Sabha Constituency, including the number of voters, statistics of voting machines, facilities at polling stations, postal voting, actions taken during the code of conduct period, details about sensitive and special polling stations, manpower assigned for the polling process, home voting statistics, ideal polling stations, traffic plans, and restrictions on polling day.
He mentioned that there are a total of 16 sensitive polling stations in the Maval Lok Sabha Constituency, where additional police forces will be stationed to ensure law and order.
ASP Karthik assured that the police department is fully prepared to conduct the voting process in a peaceful environment. Adequate police security will be provided at each polling station, and police patrols, traffic control, and preventive measures have been implemented to maintain law and order. Sufficient manpower is available for police deployment, with a special focus on sensitive areas, and citizens are urged to cooperate in maintaining law and order.
Additionally, a total of 11,484 officers and employees have been appointed as Polling Station Presiding Officers, Polling Officers, Polling Assistants, and Micro Inspectors for approximately 2,566 polling stations in the Maval Lok Sabha Constituency. Furthermore, 291 sector officers have been appointed, and election materials will be distributed to them at the polling stations on Sunday, 12th May, according to the Vidhan Sabha Constituency from 8 am.
Singala announced that doctors would be stationed at each polling station to provide medical assistance. Additionally, facilities such as ORS with drinking water, wheelchair arrangements, sun shelters, waiting rooms, and first aid boxes will be provided. All officers have been directed to strictly adhere to the guidelines set by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
50 % of polling stations have been equipped with webcasting, as per the ECI’s directives, to monitor the entire polling process closely. Furthermore, seven control rooms, one in the office of the Election Returning Officer and the Assistant Election Returning Officer at Akurdi each, have been established to closely monitor and coordinate the process.
A total of 44 flying squads, 19 inspection teams, 38 static surveillance teams, 12 video survey teams, and six EVM security teams, along with action forces and other necessary security measures, have been deployed in the Maval Lok Sabha Constituency area. Seizures from 20 vehicles include liquor worth Rs 40,000, narcotics worth Rs 62,47,000, valuables worth Rs 1,98,00,000, and other materials worth Rs 39,12,000. Additionally, a total of 277 cases have been registered against the perpetrators under various sections.
