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Peaceful polls in city, no flexing of muscles
Technology comes to the aid of officials
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Young brigade makes its presence felt, swarm Facebook with poll posts
Siblings Nikhil, Amita and Richa show voter ID cards before casting their votes for the first time in Jalandhar on Monday. Tribune Photo: Sarabjit Singh
Army personnel lead from the front
Vehicle ferrying voters impounded, one booked
Celebrations turn sour as groom’s uncle killed in mishap
Politicians forget Bapu on death anniversary
The statue of Mahatma Gandhi gathers dust in Phagwara on Monday. Photo by writer
Differently abled left in the lurch
Buses deployed on poll duty, commuters face hardship
Polling officers play spoilsport, many voters disallowed right of not to vote
Male surgical ward bears brunt of elections
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Peaceful polls in city, no flexing of muscles
Jalandhar, January 30
Most voters preferred taking voter slips from booth-level officers and did not even bother to go to the booths of political parties, which were rather set up at least 200 metres from the polling stations. Such booths in previous polls usually remained set up just alongside the gates. Also unlike previous polls when candidates used to arrange for vehicles for ferrying voters, they on their own went to polling stations since morning to cast their votes. Also as a change from all the previous polls, voters did not have to wait for long in queues to cast their votes and process went on quite smoothly and in an organised way. Though the usual trend has been that poll percentage is low in the day and jumps all of a sudden in the evening, this time it was just the reverse. Poll percentage was as high as 50 per cent by 1 pm at some polling stations, including Kaki Pind, Hazara Pind, Dhilwan and even Kishanpura areas, after which it somewhat slowed down. Voters had to cross unusually high security checks at all polling stations. At almost all polling stations the voters had to show voter slips and voter ID cards to even go beyond the main entrance. Those without cards were not even permitted to barge inside polling stations. Interestingly, even the mediapersons were not spared and had to show ID cards issued by the Election Commission of India to go inside any polling booths which normally was not required till the previous polls. Change of sorts
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No taxis or cabs used by any party candidate for ferrying voters in city.
n Candidates went inside polling booths with just one agent. Their vehicles did not bear any party flags and posters.
n Booths of political parties set up over 200 metres away from the main entrance of polling stations.
n Poll percentage higher till afternoon.
n Polling went on smoothly and in an organised manner.
n Voters had to show ID cards right at the entrance of polling stations before being allowed inside to cast their vote. |
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Technology comes to the aid of officials
Jalandhar, January 30 Sitting in their offices, the district election officials and ROs got updates of poll percentage from presiding officials at each booth through SMS after every two hours which was even uploaded on the Punjab CEO website and telecast on various TV channels. Priyank Bharti, District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, today viewed live casting of votes from five polling stations through webcasting technology. While there remained some technical glitches in the telecast of polls from Lambra (Nakodar constituency), the official monitored poll from other stations at Garha (Jalandhar Cantonment, Maqsudan (Jalandhar North), Bhargo Camp (Jalandhar West) and Talhan (Jalandhar Central). Trained by Punjab Infotech, volunteering students of Lovely Professional University made use of their laptops fitted with digital cameras atop to webcast polling. The officials could see videos in real time with a gap of just 15 seconds behind the actual event. The officials during webcasting of Talhan even saw in the morning that many voters were entering polling stations with their accomplices (without having IDs) which they got stopped by making call to the polling staff there. They even noticed and inquired as to why turnout at Bhargo camp remained low for quite sometime. n Use of webcasting and SMSes make it easier for officials to keep a tab on polling. n
SMSes were sent by all presiding officials from all booths after every two hours on poll percentage. n
Webcasting showed live videos from 8 am to 5 pm with just 15 second difference. |
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Young brigade makes its presence felt, swarm Facebook with poll posts
Jalandhar, January 30 Facebook remained abuzz with ‘poll posts’ throughout the day as youngsters kept updating their status after casting their votes and motivating others to follow suit. It was as if the youngsters were fighting an online war as they not only posted their status but pictures, posters and slogans too. The poll-related posts were followed by many comments and likes by their friends as they exercised their right to vote. Since morning, young boys and girls came in large numbers to cast their votes as they had plans to enjoy later. “I had to post my picture showing finger bearing the mark of indelible ink as many of my friends did not believe that I had cast my vote at 8.15 am. I informed all my friends to reach the polling booth as fast as possible and enjoyed the day at home,” said Ajay Rana, a youngster. “We wanted to catch up with our NRI friend, hence preferred to vote early. Now we are free and will enjoy the day,” said Harshdeep Singh. Youngsters also uploaded comments like “Baki de kam baad ch pehla vote jaruri hai” and “Maine apni vote dal di hai..aap ne dali ke nahi?....please vote zarur dalein”. Another Facebook user Amarpreet Singh wrote on his wall, “On my way to cast vote..tusi v apni vote jarur pao…Pappu na bano!!” Many youngsters said since Facebook is available on mobile, hence uploading pictures and comments is not a difficult task. Three siblings namely Nikhil from DAV College, Amita and Richa from Apeejay College were among the first-time voters who reached the polling booth early. They said they were excited to exercise their right to vote. “We are feeling like grown ups and more responsible today,” they added. Some students also posted their views about political parties and urged the voters to cast their votes after checking credentials of the candidates. Kanwarpreet expressed his sentiments on Facebook and wrote, “No matter what, May d best party win who could support the aam admi at every point; May that party wins which put in some efforts and bring huge development in major sectors -- health and education! Guys, do cast your vote with full sincerity and let’s bring change for the better!” “It was our day today. We enjoyed casting our votes and making people aware about their duty to cast vote,” said Amandeep Kaur, a first-time voter and an avid Facebook user. |
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Army personnel lead from the front
Jalandhar, January 30 Besides from Punjab, serving Army personnel from other states like Rajasthan, Orissa, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, also used the opportunity provided to them. Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and the Personnel below Officer Rank (PBOR) reached in large numbers along with their families at Auxiliary Polling booth, 83-A, which was set up at Cantonment Board Boys Senior Secondary School at Jalandhar cantonment. A large number of serving Sikh soldiers along Many soldiers from 14 Sikh Light Infantry (LI) said it was for the first time that they were getting a chance to cast their ballot in the assembly elections. “Till now we had been using postal ballots to cast our votes. When the voter registration started, we ensured that we also take part in the elections,” One such soldier of 14 Sikh LI hailing from Mukerian, who came along with his wife to the booth, said, “It is for the first time that we are casting our votes together in the assembly elections. It is after a long time that we would become a part of the state’s next government.” |
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Vehicle ferrying voters impounded, one booked
Jalandhar, January 30 Acting tough against the violators, the police booked an unidentified person redhanded while he was dropping voters at a polling booth established at Mehar Chand Technical College premises in Jalandhar North constituency. SHO Nirmal Singh said the election observer sighted a vehicle, which was ferrying voters to the polling booth at Jalandhar North constituency. The vehicle's driver escaped from the spot, the SHO said. The police has impounded the vehicle and registered a case under Section 133 of the Representation of Peoples Act against an unidentified person. Asked about the name of the candidate, who deployed the said vehicle to ferry voters, the SHO replied, "Only the driver who fled from the spot The returning officer of the North Constituency said though they had received two complaints in this regard, but investigation was being done to get to the bottom. Sources said in Shahkot too candidates deployed scores of vehicles in transporting voters to polling booths. EC receives 322 complaints
The Elections Commission's toll free number today received 27 complaints relating to the elections. The total numbers of complaints received till date stood at 322. Officials at the control room said besides receiving complaints on deployment of vehicles to ferry voters, the toll free number also received complaints like use of mobile phones and party workers influencing voters inside the polling booths. Officials also claimed that complaints have been instantly forwarded to the respecting returning officers for further proceedings. |
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Celebrations turn sour as groom’s uncle killed in mishap
Jalandhar, January 30 The injured were rushed to a nearby private hospital. But the groom’s uncle, who sustained serious head injuries, succumbed. The victim along with other relatives was returning home after solemnizing the marriage of his nephew when they met with the tragedy. |
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Poll effect Ashok Kaura
Phagwara/Phillaur, January 30 It was a similar story in Phillaur where politicians and residents forgot to remember Mahatma Gandhi. No politicians visited Gandhi Dham to pay tributes.
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Differently abled left in the lurch
Jalandhar, January 30
Even as the District Red Cross Society had provided wheelchairs at many booths, majority of the booths were still without them. There were instances where differently abled persons returned from booths because they felt they would not be able to vote because of the crowd or lack of arrangements. Manmohan Singh, an activist for the Indian Spinal Injury Association, said, “I had a comfortable voting experience because I had a wheelchair and relatives who could drop me and pick me up in a car. But for those with limited resources, it must have been a difficult decision to cast vote.” Singh, who voted from the polling booth at the Agriculture Department on the Garha road, said, “I did not find a wheelchair at the booth. The arrangements are much in keeping with the rest of the policies of the state government. Ideally, we should have facilities where a differently abled person does not has to grope for help at any point in his journey from home, but we are way behind the policies abroad when it comes to the differently abled. I hope the right government comes to power and our voice gets taken seriously.” Pavel Pasla (31), said, “I did go to a booth in my area and it was overcrowded. It would have been difficult to make way through the crowds. There was no special arrangement for a differently abled person like me. The personnel on duty did offer to pick me up and take me inside, but I did not want to create a scene.” Amarjit Singh Anand, a differently abled rights activist, who went to vote with his daughter (suffering from mental impairment) and wife, said, “I found the arrangements to be fine. One had to climb a step or two to get to the booth, but ramps had been made to facilitate easy access for the differently abled.” Paramjit Singh, secretary, Red Cross Society, said of the total 1,771 polling stations in Jalandhar, wheelchairs were provided in only 17 polling booths at Bhargo Camp, Garha, Chugitti, Gandhi Camp, Basti Sheikh and Ram Nagar areas. He said, “We provided wheelchairs to as many areas as were within our reach. With the Red Cross having not more than 15 to 20 wheelchairs, it wasn’t possible for us to give any more wheelchairs either.”
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Buses deployed on poll duty, commuters face hardship
Jalandhar, January 30 “Buses usually arrive almost after every minute, but today we had to wait for buses for long,” said Aman Juneja, a daily commuter from Shahkot to Jalandhar. As scores of mini buses were also deployed on the government duty, a local mini bus stand was also isolated. “We have deployed our buses on election duty as the government is paying more money than we earn everyday,” one of the mini bus operators said. District Electoral Officer Priyank Bharti said at least 40 buses have been provided to each constituency of Jalandhar. The district transport department had deployed over 400 buses and 100 private taxis on election duty to ferry election material and polling staff in the district. District administration sources said the transport department provided the cavalcade of 75 government buses and 325 private buses. Official sources said constituency-wise, 50 buses were deployed to Shahkot, 47 buses to Nakodar, 41 buses each to Phillaur and Central, 48 buses to Kartarpur, 46 buses each to Cantonment and North, 42 buses to West and 38 buses were given to the Adampur constituency. Sources said as some city buses were also off the road, local commuters also faced inconvenience. |
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Polling officers play spoilsport, many voters disallowed right of not to vote
Jalandhar, January 30 While a few received proper guidance on the front, the demand of the rest was dismissed, with polling officers telling them that this facility would be available next year or they did not have the requisite forms needed to register the right not to vote. Disha Das, who voted at the polling booth at Sain Das Primary School in Basan Vala Bazaar, said, “I expressed the wish to exercise my right to reject all candidates and fill up form 17A, but I was told that the form would be available next year.” “The presiding officer told me that if I wanted to reject the candidates, I shouldn’t have come to vote. Despite constant persuasion, they did not let me exercise my right and finally I had to vote for one of the candidates,” she said. Jyoti Bala, who had gone to cast her vote at the polling booth at DIPS, Carol Bagh, was told that the booth did not have any 49-0 form. Her brother Dinesh Kumar, an activist of the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, said, “I called the Deputy Commissioner-cum-DEO on the issue who gave me the number 2244059 to lodge my complaint. I did register my complaint at the number. When I went to the same booth to cast my vote in the evening and asked for form 49-0, I was refused again. They said they had no forms like that. I stood my ground for quite some time, but there was a long queue of voters so I finally gave in.” “When there is a provision for 49-0, it is our right to register our dissatisfaction with the candidates that we do not like. But we have been refused that option today. Some of my friends also faced similar situation. This surely is not democratic,” he added. Pushmeet (21), a student at a local college, however, said, “I was allowed to exercise the right not to vote after I told them that I did not like any of the candidates on the list. When I told the polling booth officials what I wanted, they noted it down on a plain paper. They also scribbled a remark on the main register.” Many people said there was confusion among voters regarding form 17A and 49-0. Most of the polling staff was not very clear about it and hushed the people who demanded the option. Sources say some polling booth officers deliberately avoided form 49-0 being filled because it loaded them with excessive paper work. The 49-0 procedure
Form 17A is the register in which all the votes are entered. If an elector, after his number has been duly entered in the register of votes in Form 17A and has put his signature or thumb impression thereon (as required under sub rule (1) of rule 49L), decides not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry in Form 17A by the presiding officer and the signature or thumb impression of the elector will be obtained against the remark. |
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Male surgical ward bears brunt of elections
Jalandhar, January 30 With the majority of the civil hospital staff away for duties, the hospital wore a deserted look even as important services like ultrasound scans and the pharmacy had also been shut up. While the emergency was running, the patients in certain wards said they hadn’t been checked by any doctor for the past several days. The patients, especially at the male surgical ward, with head injuries in clashes said their wounds had not been dressed for the past three days even as their bandages clearly seemed soiled. They said even though they had brought this issue to the notice of the authorities a number of times, their complaints have fallen on deaf ears. Rajkumar from Tyagmurti Nagar said he had a fracture in one of his arms which had not been treated due to the ongoing leaves of the doctors since Basant Panchmi. “Yesterday we went to a local quack to get this fixed. He tied a bandage round my hand. The bandage on my head is still old because the doctors are not coming and none of the nurses are dressing it. Whenever we ask them to do it, they say we will do it tomorrow.” Subham a teenager, who was hurt in a school feud, said, “They wrote me some medicines on day one but haven’t dressed my wounds since that day. Even when it hurts and we call the nurses we are told to wait for another day.” It was a similar story for Gurmeet Singh from Bhagata village and Vrind Kumar from Dhagri village, Jalandhar. Most of these people also had stitches on their wounds and complained of constant irritability bacuse their wouds were not being dressed. Avdhes from Avtar Nagar said no one came to tie his bandage even when it opened one night. “I have been holding it up with a cap.” Some said even seeking help from doctors in the emergency did not work as they did not respond for hours. “I received two injections last night. Since then my visitors have called people from the emergency many times. At might they said they will come within half an hour. Their half an hour is atill not over, it seems.” The patients at the male and female medical wards seemed in sharp contrast to these people. Patients at the other two wards said they were being attended to properly and had not faced any problems since doctors were daily checking them.
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Jalandhar, January 30
Phagwara/Phillaur, January 30
