KANGPOKPI, May 31: Polling officials selected for performing election duty during the 5th ADC Election 2015 to be held on June 1 in respect of Sadar Hills have left for their respective polling booths in Sadar Hills from ADC Complex here today.
More than 1000 polling personnel including reserved personnel have been pressed into election duty in the 159 polling stations in the Sadar Hills.
While 47 booths are in Kangpokpi AC, there are 64 polling booths in Saikul AC and 48 booths in Saitu AC.
Five polling personnel have been deployed in each of the polling booths in the district, said Chunglenmang Kipgen, Returning Officer, Kangpokpi.
He continued that 27 candidates including six from INC, seven from BJP, four from NFP, two from LJP and eight Independent will go for the poll tomorrow in 47 polling booths in 7 DCC under RO Kangpokpi.
According to the Vulnerability Mapping, out of the total 159 polling stations in the district, 48 are considered as hyper sensitive, 59 as sensitive and 52 as normal, said the RO, adding that more than 200 vehicles including in reserved will be used in the election to ferry the polling parties and security personnel in respect of Sadar Hills.
The Returning Officer, Kangpokpi further said that District Council Constituencies along Imphal-Tamenglong Road have been categorized as Hyper Sensitive and Sensitive in the interest of voters and also to ensure free and fair voting.
Among many other Hyper Sensitive booths mentioned in vulnerability mapping by the district administration, all the six polling stations under 8-Wakotphai DCC in Kangpokpi and all the seven polling booths under 24-Bongbal Khullen DCC in Saikul AC have been also categorized as Hyper Sensitive.
As per report received from the Nodal Officer, in-charge of security, adequate security arrangements had been made for the poll, said the RO Kangpokpi, explaining that polling parties will be escorted by security personnel till their destination.
`All the polling parties were dispatched from this morning after successfully distributing the polling materials at Security Barrack, ADC Complex, Kangpopki and they will reach their respective destinations by evening,` added Chunglenmang Kipgen.
While informing that tomorrow`™s voting will begin at 7 am and will continue till 4.30 pm, the district administration called upon the people, who are not voters or candidates of the constituencies going to polls on Monday, to leave the area to ensure free and fair polling.
`I will heave a sigh of relief only after polling is over after which I will return to the district headquarter`, said a Presiding Officer.
“™Being a presiding officer, I will adhere to the responsibilities and ensure safety of my team during the polls,` said a Senior Headmaster from Twilang (IT.Road) area.
“™Some of my friends are going to a booth which is categorized as Hyper Sensitive but I am lucky to have been deployed at a normal polling booth`™`™, said a teacher from Saikul as he waited for his vehicle to leave.
A housewife who came to see-off her husband who has been assigned the duty of a Presiding Officer in the election said, `I am happy that my hubby has been engaged in a constitutional activity and at the same time I pray for his safe return because I have a heavy heart due to the fearsome election culture in Manipur`.