All set for phase I polls in AP

The stage is set for the first phase of polling in Andhra Pradesh on April 30 as the curtains were down on the campaign in the Telangana region.

“All arrangements have been put in place in the 30,518 polling stations to facilitate smooth polling on Wednesday. About four lakh staff, including 1.40 lakh security personnel, are ready to discharge poll duties,” Bhanwar Lal, Chief Electoral Officer, AP, told newspersons here on Monday.

The number of voters in the first phase is 2,81,75,055 while 265 and 1,669 candidates are in the fray.

As campaign ended on Monday at 4 pm in some regions and at 6 pm in others, there was strict monitoring to ensure there was no campaigning , the official said. “Any kind of campaigning, including opinion polls, interviews and advertisements in print, electronic and social media, will be not allowed,” he said.

A ban on bulk SMSes for campaigning also came into immediate effect and would continue till 6 pm on Wednesday. To ensure transparency, live web telecast would be done in about 16,500 polling stations

The Election Commission’s staff had completed 85 to 90 per cent of distribution of voters’ slips and the remaining would be done by Tuesday evening.

“Voter slips can also be taken at the polling station if it isn’t distributed. Voters would be allowed to vote with any valid identity proof if their name is on the list. The slip is not mandatory,” Bhanwar Lal said.

A general holiday has been declared for Government and private institutions on the day of polling. “If any private companies/institutions are found to be functioning, criminal cases will be registered with a likely punishment of one year in jail,” he added.

So far, illegal cash to the tune of ₹126 crore was seized in the State besides 4.57 lakh litres of liquor. “In addition, 74 kg of gold, 708 kg of sliver were also seized and 15,170 persons have been arrested, the Chief Electoral Officer added.