PUDUCHERRY: A total of 46 Model Polling Stations (MPS) will be established in Puducherry region with two MPS in each constituency, District Election Officer cum Collector P Jawahar said.
Briefing newsmen at a press conference here today, Jawahar said that these MPS will have some extra facilities and focus , which in future will be replicated in all polling stations. Though the exact counter of the facilities are yet to be drawn up, MPS will have sitting space for women and senior citizens, Shamiana and other requirements .
In a bid to achieve 100 percent polling from 88 percent in the previous Lok Sabha elections , there would be more focus on Polling stations (PS) , where voting percentage has been low in previous Assembly and Lok Sabha election. There has been 134 PS which recorded less than 80 percent polling and 67 PS s which recorded below 70 percent polling in the previous Assembly elections in 2011, said the DEO. In Lok Sabha elections 76 PS recorded a polling percentage below 70 percent. Besides there was only 24 percent polling in PS in Veerampattinam during the Lok Sabha elections due to poll boycott by fishermen.
The Election department would embark on an exhaustive door to door awareness campaign by involving socially active persons within 10 days. Extra vigilant on ethical voting by impressing upon voters that their vote is not for sale . A logo and display stickers would be put up to drive home this message. A Mascot with the squirrel, the state animal would be used for the propaganda to grab the attention of all in a week’s time. A Pamphlet with pledge to vote 'Sankalp Patra' would be circulated through school students to reach their family members . Already it has been distributed to students in 25 schools, said the DEO.
Based on the suggestions by Prabhabati Akashi, Observer of Election Commission of India after interaction with college students , Meghdoot Solar Mobile PS would be going around colleges to appraise students on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to first time voters. Other inputs given by Akashi with regard to Veerampattinam following her interaction with voters would be given attention and rectified.
Model Code Violations
Model Code violation case has been booked against All India NR Congress (AINRC) for depicting the achievements of the party without obtaining prior permission . Similarly another case has been booked against BJP on similar grounds .
A total of five MCC cases has been booked in Mahe, while five cases has been booked in Yanam and 27 FIRs in Puducherry, said the DEO .Two cases of MCC violation has been registered against CPM in Mahe for trying to influence voters with eateries and one case against DYFI for defacement by distributing posters without the name of the printer in Mahe region . Another case has been booked against a Sell Help Group for distribution of Polyester sarees in the region.
One case of paid news has been booked against a print media for publishing the achievements of an MLA M Vaithinathan of AINRC in the garb of news.