Vikravandi by-election: 44 polling stations identified as critical

The election department has identified 44 polling stations in Vikravandi assembly constituency as 'critical' ahead of the July 10 bypoll.

According to an official, a polling station is identified as critical based on a list of criteria, including whether the polls recorded earlier were above 80%; whether 75% of them had favoured a candidate in the last election; whether it recorded less than 10% polls; or whether violence leading to registration of an FIR has been recorded in the last five years, etc.

The Election Department will ensure enhanced security measures such as deployment of Central Armed Police Force personnel and webcasting, among other measures, at these polling stations, he said.

District Election Officer and Collector C. Palani said that the police personnel who are to be deployed for bandobusting operations for the by-election exercised their postal voting rights on Thursday, July 4. Special arrangements have been made at the Vikravandi taluk office to enable the personnel to cast their votes. The exercise will continue till Saturday, July 6.

The uploading of the names of candidates contesting the by-election on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) is underway. The EVMs will be transferred to the vault once the process is completed, he said.

Meanwhile, the Collector inspected the arrangements made for counting of votes at the Government High School, Panayapuram, near Villupuram. He checked the availability of basic amenities like electricity connection and water supply, and inspected the counting rooms. He also reviewed the security arrangements at the centre, including the strong room and public address systems. The Collector also inspected the location of security barriers, spacing of agents from candidates and other equipment.

Dry days

The district administration has declared a series of alcohol-free days in view of the bypolls. Accordingly, all TASMAC liquor retail shops and licensed bars in Villupuram district will remain closed from 10 am on July 8 till midnight on July 10.

Liquor shops and bars will also remain closed on July 13, the counting day under the Tamil Nadu Liquor (Licenses and Permits) Rules, 1981.