New Delhi: Elaborate arrangements have been made for peaceful conduct of fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections tomorrow.
Fifty one constituencies, spread over seven States, will go to polls in this phase. Voting will take place for 14 seats in Uttar Pradesh; 12 in Rajasthan; seven each in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal; five in Bihar and four in Jharkhand.
In Jammu and Kashmir, polling will take place in Ladakh and Pulwama and Shopian districts of Anantnag constituencies. In Uttar Pradesh, polling parties with election-related material are being sent to their respective booths under tight security.
In West Bengal, elections will be held for 7 Parliamentary seats and they include Barrackpur, Bongaon, Sreerampur, Hooghly, Arambagh, Howrah and Uluberia. Over 1 crore 16 lakhs electorates will decide the political fate of 83 candidates.
More than 13 thousands polling stations have been set up. Besides State Police around 580 companies of Central forces have been deployed to ensure free and fair voting.
Reports say that the Election Commission has directed 100 percent security coverage by central forces in polling booths in this phase.
Out of total 7 Parliamentary Constituencies contests at Barackpore under North 24-Parganas District is one of the major attraction to the people of the State. In this Constituency former Railway Minister and Trinamul Congress nominee Dinesh Tribedi is locked in a 15 cornered contest.
BJP has put up former Trinamul Congress MLA, Arjun Singh in Barackpore seat. Arjun Singh has recently quitted the Trinamul Congress and joined in BJP after resigning from State Assembly.
In Bihar elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polls. Polls will be held in five constituency – Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur Saran and Hajipur. 82 candidates including 6 women are in fray. Report say that that Jawans of Central para military forces are being deployed at every booths.
Indo – Nepal border has been sealed and strict vigil is being maintained to avert untoward incidents.Inter- district border has also been sealed. Out of 8,899 polling booths about two thousand have been declared vulnerable.
Over 65 thousands polling staffs have been engaged in poll related work. Over 4300 micro observers will oversee election process. Live webcast facility will be available at 400 booths.
Campaigning for this phase ended last evening. Top leaders of various political parties held rallies at various places to woo the voters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar yesterday.
Addressing a rally at Valmiki Nagar in Bihar, the Prime Minister said, Congress and its allies are now abusing the Election Commission because they are looking for ready-made excuses for their imminent defeat in the polls.