OUR CORRESPONDENT
TEZPUR: The Sonitpur district administration has geared up for smooth conduct of the forthcoming Assembly elections in the district in a free and fair manner.
Addressing media persons at a press meet held at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner's Office here on Sunday, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Manvendra Pratap Singh, informed that the elections to five Legislative Assembly Constituencies – 71-Dhekiajuli, 72-Barchalla, 73-Tezpur, 74-Rangapara and 75-Sootea — under Tezpur Election District will take place in the first phase on March 27.
Seeking active cooperation of the media in giving adequate publicity about the fair process of the election process, the Deputy Commissioner informed that all necessary steps have been taken to provide adequate security throughout the district in view of the forthcoming polls. For smooth conduct of the election process, the district administration has opened various cells under supervision of senior district administration officials and has engaged adequate staff in each of these cells.
Altogether 8,096 government employees have been engaged for the elections till date.
The total number of voters in Tezpur election district as on January 1, 2021 is 8,97,129 out of which 4,57,627 are males, 4,39,502 are females and 13 of the third gender. Stating that out of these 3,512 are service voters, as many as 4,460 are PwD electors and 12,227 are senior citizens (above 80 years of age), the District Election Officer informed that due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation, the ECI has issued special guidelines so that all electors above 80 years of age and all PwD voters will be able to cast their vote through postal ballot.
Superintendent of Mugdhajyoti Dev Mahanta, informed that out of the 1324 polling stations falling under Tezpur Election district, 1257 fall under Sonitpur police district and that there are no vulnerable hamlets in the district at present. He also informed that a social media monitoring cell has been opened to keep a check on any type of undemocratic activity which may hamper the process of a free and fair election. Joint excise raids have been started at various points in the district, he informed.
Moreover, a toll free voter's helpline – 1950 - has been opened for all election related purposes. A round-the-clock control room (toll free) has also been set up with the following phone numbers – 03712-232063/ 232046/ 232064.
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