MALKANGIRI: Necessary arrangements have been made to conduct the first phase panchayat election in 264 booths covering three Zilla Parishad zones and 19 gram panchayats under Malkangiri panchayat samiti, said Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy, who is supervising the overall arrangements.
Of the 264 booths, 17 have been marked hypersensitive and 42 sensitive. There are nine candidates for three ZP zones and 52 sarpanch candidates are in the fray for 19 gram panchayats. This apart, 60 of the total 264 Ward members are also trying their luck.
A total of 492 polling personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful polling and 63,217 voters will participate.
Malkangiri BDO Biranchi Narayan Darwan said videography will be conducted at 17 hyper-sensitive booths to keep a watch on the polling process as per the direction of the State Election Commission.
For the purpose, 10 videographers have been called. However, there would be no arrangement of close circuit television cameras (CCTVs) at any of the booths, he said.
Security has been beefed up for the hyper-sensitive and sensitive booths with the deployment of jawans of the Special Operation Group, District Voluntary Force and Border Security Force.
Polling will be held in five phases in the district.