Over 3,000 polling booths 'hyper sensitive' in Chhattisgarh

The state would go to polls in two phases-first on Nov 11 and second on Nov 19

More than 3,000 polling booths in the Left insurgency-hit Chhattisgarh have been identified as “hyper sensitive”with authorities keeping a close watch.

The poll panel headed by its the chief election commission, V S Sampath, on Saturday, held a high-level meeting with the state officials to review the preparedness for the ensuing state polls. Chhattisgarh would go to polls in two phases, first on November 11 and second on November 19.

“The commission is satisfied with the level of preparedness,” Sampath told reporters later in the evening. Of the total 21,424 polling booths in the state that has 90 assembly constituencies, 3,249 have been marked as hyper sensitive, he said, adding that 6,920 polling booths have been identified as sensitive.

The poll panel discussed about the security situation in the “red zone” of Bastar for conducting free, fair and peaceful elections. “The law and order is under close watch (of the commission),” Sampath said. The booths in the worst Naxal infested pockets would be shifted to safer place as polling parties would find it difficult to reach the spot and conduct peaceful polling. The state police had proposed some 323 booths but the state electoral office identified around 300.

The commission would bring down the number further,” Sampath said hinting that the number of such polling booths would be confined to 150. The chief election commission said poll panel has expressed greater concern for Bastar region. “Never before Bastar would have seen such an arrangement (for conducting free and fair elections),” he added.

The commission had directed the state officials not to succumb to any pressure. Sampath said the election commission was above all and the officials would not act under pressure.