Equipped with ballot boxes and other items, polling parties left the capital on Tuesday to hold by-elections in seven panchayat seats across five blocks of Tamar, Sonahatu, Angara, Silli and Ormanjhi on Wednesday.
Across Jharkhand, bypolls will be held in 130 seats.
As many as 27,948 voters, including 14,177 men and 13,771 women, will exercise their voting rights at 83 booths to elect three members of panchayat samiti and four mukhiyas in Ranchi.
“There are 83 polling parties and each party has been provided two ballot boxes. We have also made an arrangement to provide recommendation letter to first voter in each booth. Counting of votes will take place on December 22 in Pandra,” said deputy commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray during a news meet on Tuesday.
Of 83 booths, 51 are located in Naxalite-affected areas. The booths have been divided in seven clusters and 25 sector-cum-zonal officers and four super zonal officers have been deputed. Besides, a control room will operate from 7am under the watchful eyes of an executive magistrate. Also one can report complaints on the helpline 9431927652.
“As majority of booths are in Naxalite-affected areas, over 1,000 security personnel, including para military forces and state police personnel, have been deputed. Proper deputation has been done at strategic locations around the booths. Officers-in-charge of concerned police stations have also been directed for regular patrolling,” SSP Gupta said.
Garhwa mukhiya post
The by-election for one mukhiya post at Meral East village in Garhwa will be held on December 19.
Fourteen ward members have already been elected to the panchayat. “The bypoll will be held at 12 booths, out of which nine have been declared sensitive. As many as 82 security personnel have been deployed,” said DC Harsh Mangla.
