Over 71.5k SF men including 45000 state police personnel to be deployed for peaceful polls in Telangana

Hyderabad: Over 71500 security forces men including 45000 state police personnel will be deployed to ensure free, fair, and peaceful assembly elections in Telangana.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vikas Raj said 45000 state police and 3000 from other departments are being deployed for the elections. A total of 23,500 Home Guards are coming from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.

He said 1866 teams/squads have been deployed, while over two lakh staff have been posted for election duties. Checks have been increased at border areas and other public places like hotels bus stations etc.

Regarding complaints and violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the CEO informed 1020 FIRs on MCC violations have been made so far while there are FIRs on various types of seizures, the maximum (10325) about liquor followed by drugs (317).

He said 1280 MCMC permissions have been given, while 37 confirmed paid news have been identified. A total of 120 links have been removed from social media based on complaints of Political Parties. Complaints received on cVigil are 7626. Permissions given on Suvidha app to political parties are 41,436 (86% approved).

He said a total of 26,660 eligible voters have opted for home voting facility in Telangana. They include 15,879 senior citizens (aged 80 and above), 9,374 persons with physical disabilities (P,D voters) and 1,407 voters in Essential Services, informed State

Apart from home voting, postal ballot facilities are also being used. 1053 Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballots (ETBP) have been cast.

The total number of postal ballots issued to voters to cast votes in Facilitation Centres is 1,68,612. Votes polled through postal ballots till November 25, 2023 are 96,526.

Postal ballots counted in the 2018 elections was 1,00,135, informed the CEO. EPICs printed in 2023 are 54.39 lakhs

He said 2,290 candidates are In the fray. They include 2068 males, 2,21 females, and one transgender.

A total of 49 counting centers have been set up - one each in 31 districts plus four in Rangareddy and 14 in Hyderabad.

The CEO also said that special arrangements are made in all polling stations to make these accessible for PwD voters. There would be one wheel chair in every PS. A total of 21,686 wheel chairs have been arranged. "There would be transport facilities to the polling stations for PwD voters and senior citizens above 80 years arranged by Returning Officers (ROs). Also, volunteers would be present to help them. However, candidates or politicians should not arrange transport for PwD or senior citizen voters, else it would amount to a criminal offence," said the CEO.

He said 76,532 Voter Slips in Braille for the visually challenged have been arranged. There are 40,000 Voter’s Guide in Braille for the visually challenged and 40,000 dummy ballot papers in Braille for them.

The CEO said in the last 48 hours leading to the polling day, Section 144 will be promulgated and all political canvassing must come to an end. Only valid pass holders would be allowed entry to the booths. Polling arrangements are in place.