The election officer of the frontier Baramulla district Monday said all arrangements for the conduct of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections have been completed for the north Kashmir constituency.
The Baramulla parliament constituency is scheduled to go forpolling in the first phase on April 11, for which the notification will beissued on March 18 with the last date for filling of nominations as March 25.
The scrutiny of nomination papers will be held the next dayand the last date for the withdrawal of candidature March 28.
Counting of votes will be done on May 23.
The deputy commissioner, who is also the district electionofficer and SSP for Baramulla addressed a press conference where theyelaborated on arrangements already in place for the polls.
The district election officer said that all the requiredpolling stations have been identified where arrangements for minimum assuredfacilities have also been made.
He said that various committees regarding surveying andexpenditure have been constituted, adding that other necessary arrangements ifany shall be finalised by end of March.
Regarding the Model Code of Conduct which came into forceSunday, the district election officer GN Itoo asserted that “any violation ofthe prescribed rules and guidelines envisaged into MCC shall be takenseriously.”
He said the academic session of students whose schools willbe used as polling centres will not be disturbed.
Regarding voting in booths along the LoC, the districtelection officer said that in case of any exigency a comprehensive plan hasbeen formulated for safe and secure polling.
“We already have a comprehensive plan in place in case anyneed arises at the polling booths located near line of control.”
The SSP Baramulla, Abdul Quyoom said polling booths thistime will be categorised as vulnerable and critical instead of sensitive andhypersensitive in the past according to ECI directions.