Hyderabad: There will be separate queues for men and women at city polling stations during the general elections. The ratio of voters allowed inside polling booths will be 1:2, that is, for every male voter, two female voters will be allowed inside. Hyderabad collector M.K. Meena gave this information to the representatives of political parties when some of them urged him to allow a separate queue for burkha-clad women.
GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar, who is also the DEO, directed the police to complete the mapping of vulnerable polling stations by Monday evening using the ‘3Cs’ criteria, that is caste, communal and criminal. The police will hold meets with voters and check on whether they have received threats which may prevent them from voting.
The DEO said booth officers would visit houses and hand over voter’s slips. They would also act as agents at polling stations. To file complaints etc., one can call the 24x7 call centre number 21111111, he added.
Mr Somesh Kumar said the GHMC would be developing an IT tool within two days to put up all formats and election-related reports online. He said that the existing 24x7 call centre for grievance redressal would also be utilised for election-related issues, and added that in the next six to seven days, an election-related complaint monitoring system would become operational.
The DEO directed returning officers and police nodal officers to inspect all counting halls and strong rooms jointly and to send compliance reports. Responding to the request of vehicles for flying squads and static surveillance teams, he said that ROs would be providing the vehicles in consultation with RTA officials and videographers as per norms.
Mr Kumar said that wherever there were more than 1,600 voters auxiliary booths should be arranged. He also proposed shifting polling stations where the character of the building had completely changed in the last three to four months. The list of the proposed polling stations to be shifted would be sent to the Election Commission of India for final decision.
The DEO said the booth level officers would visit houses and hand over voter's slips. They would also act as agents at polling stations, and support staff would be deployed for assistance. For any complaints/grievances etc., one may call the 24x7 call centre Number 21111111, he added.
Representatives of recognized political parties such as BSP, CPI, CPI(M), Indian National Congress, AIMIM and Telugu Desam participated in the meeting.
