BHOPAL: Campaigning for the November 28 assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh ended at 5 pm on Monday, setting the stage for polling two days later.
Talking to journalists after the close of campaigning, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO MP) VL Kantha Rao said the crucial silent period will now be in effect. “The campaigning is now over and the silent period has begun now. Several restrictions will be in place till the completion of polling at 5 pm on Wednesday in all 230 seats of the state,” said Rao.
Rao said since October 6, when the model code of conduct was enforced, a record volume of unaccounted cash, drugs, illicit liquor, jewellery, freebies and gifts totalling `68 crore have been seized from across the state.
“The seizures includes `29 crore in cash, illicit liquor worth `13 crore, narcotic drugs worth R5.5 crore, gems and jewellery worth around `10 crore and freebies and gifts worth around `9 crore, which is a record seizure,” he maintained.
While briefing the media about the security apparatus in place for the polls, he said that all 456 inter-state border check posts have been sealed and 120 warehouses and distilleries have been temporarily sealed for ensuring that no liquor is supplied. Also, 3600 liquor vends across the state will remain closed till the completion of polling on Wednesday.
As many as 650 companies of the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces and forces from other states will be deployed across the state for ensuring security. A total of 76 companies will be deployed in the Maoist-affected Balaghat district with 24 companies in Bhind, 19 each in Chhindwara and Morena and 18 companies each in Sagar and Bhopal.
“In total 1.80 lakh security personnel, which includes 80,000 from MP police will be deployed,” he said.
Of the 65,000-plus polling booths, as many as 17,000 have been categorized as critical. Central forces will be deployed in these booths with micro observers, webcasting facilities and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance.
Poll code violations
The seizures includes J29 crore in cash, illicit liquor worth J13 crore, narcotic drugs worth J5.5 crore, gems and jewellery worth around J10 crore and freebies and gifts worth around J9 crore, which is a record for the state