Massive Security and Infrastructure Deployed for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Civic Polls
The election department and city police in Aurangabad have established a comprehensive, multi-layered arrangement for the upcoming Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar municipal corporation elections on Thursday. They are deploying extensive manpower, advanced surveillance systems, and robust preventive measures to guarantee free, fair, and peaceful voting.
Polling Stations and Personnel Details
Polling will occur at 1,267 polling stations distributed across 363 buildings throughout the city. Officials have appointed a total of 5,588 polling personnel for this exercise. This group includes presiding officers and polling officers designated as PO 1 to PO 3. All staff members have completed thorough training sessions. Authorities have also prepared standby arrangements to handle any last-minute contingencies effectively.
Electorate and Candidate Information
The electorate for this election comprises 11,18,284 voters. These voters will elect 115 corporators to represent them. A total of 859 candidates are contesting in the polls. This includes 480 men and 379 women. Candidates represent various political parties as well as independent contenders. In the 2015 civic polls, voter turnout achieved a record high of 63%. Officials now face the key challenge of matching or surpassing that figure under the current ward-wise voting system.
Transparency and Monitoring Measures
To enhance transparency and monitoring, authorities have installed webcasting facilities at 537 polling stations. These facilities cover both the inside and outside of polling rooms. Additionally, officials have appointed 173 sector officers to oversee polling-day operations. These officers will address complaints or logistical issues at the local level promptly.
Counting Centers and Schedule
Authorities have earmarked four centers for strong rooms and vote counting. Counting for all 29 wards will occur simultaneously at these locations. The designated centers are:
- Government Engineering College, Usmanpura
- Government Polytechnic College, Station Road
- St Francis High School, Jalna Road
- Garware IT Park at Chikalthana MIDC
Counting will take place on Thursday as scheduled.
Unprecedented Security Arrangements
The police have enforced an unprecedented security blanket across the entire city. Police Commissioner Pravin Pawar stated that authorities have deployed a total of 3,307 police officers and personnel. They have also mobilized 1,928 home guards. Additional strength includes one company and two platoons of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF). Pawar emphasized that the objective is to ensure polling and counting occur in a peaceful and fearless atmosphere. This environment should allow citizens to exercise their right to vote freely without any intimidation.
Preventive Actions Before Polling
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ratnakar Navale detailed the wide range of preventive actions taken ahead of polling. Police carried out as many as 905 preventive actions. This included 88 actions under the Code of Criminal Procedure. Authorities externed twenty-eight persons under the Maharashtra Police Act. They detained four accused under the MPDA and took action against three accused under MCOCA.
Navale added that police registered 211 cases related to illegal liquor. These cases involved contraband seizures worth Rs 7.21 lakh. Police also registered 18 cases under the NDPS Act with seizures valued at Rs 11.87 lakh. As part of election-related precautions, a total of 847 weapons were deposited across police stations. Authorities took action against 283 persons under BNSS Section 163.
Comprehensive Security Deployment
Police have pressed extensive patrolling, fixed-point deployments, and foot patrols into service. They are also utilizing drone surveillance, plainclothes teams, QRTs, Damini squads, and traffic police. These measures focus particularly on sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas. Police have conducted route marches and area domination exercises to reassure citizens and maintain order.
The administration and police have jointly appealed to voters. They urge citizens to turn out in large numbers and participate in the democratic process without any fear. Officials emphasize the importance of every vote in shaping the city's future governance.
