Ludhiana, April 29
As many as 15,59,851 voters will exercise their right to franchise at 1,653 polling stations, including 13 auxiliary booths. Around 1,400 voters can cast their vote at a polling station.

An auxiliary booth is set up at a polling station where the number of voters is more than 1,400. As many as 183 polling stations that fall under the police commissionerate have been declared hypersensitive.

Around 13,063 employees and officials of different departments along with 6,502 employees and officials of the police department have been put on poll duty. Surabhi Malik, Nodal Officer, Poll Personnel Management, Ludhiana, said: "To keep a check on the polling process, 784 micro-observers have been deputed."

Rajat Aggarwal, District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, said: "A district-level complaint centre has been set up.

For complaints, if any, one can contact 1800-1800-695." Sukhdev Singh Bhangu, Election Tehsildar, Ludhiana, said, "We have sent 3,306 electronic voting machines (EVMs) to 1,653 booths.

Each EVM has two parts, control unit and extra unit. We have already sent 5 per cent extra control units and 10 per cent extra ballot units."

Ballot papers

The District Election Office has issued 956 election duty certificates (EDC). Of these, 221 were issued to officials of the police department and 735 were given to civil department employees. Around 436 employees have been issued postal ballots (officials deployed at stations where they can’t vote get postal ballots). A few employees deputed on election duty exercised their right to franchise at Postal Ballot Paper Facilitation Centres on Tuesday. 

Webcasting booths

Ludhiana has 20 webcasting booths. The IT department of the government has installed its equipment, including cameras, to keep a tab on various activities at the booths.

Supermodel booths

Two supermodel polling booths (90 and 91) have been set up at Ramgarhia Girls Senior Secondary School, Millar Ganj. Kuldeep Singh, Assistant Returning Officer, said: “A red carpet will be rolled out to welcome voters. The booths have been decked up. The polling staff will be seen wearing jackets reading ‘May I help you’. Facilities such as drinking water and clean toilets will be provided to the voters. Pregnant women, senior citizens and physically challenged persons can wait in an air-conditioned rest room.”

DC issues orders

The Ludhiana DEO-cum-DC said, "Wheat will not be purchased on Wednesday. He appealed to farmers not to bring their produce to grain markets on April 30. The labour department has declared a paid holiday on April 30. This holiday will be in lieu of the previously decided weekly holiday."

Ludhiana, April 29
On the election eve, door-to-door canvassing kept candidates contesting from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency busy. In no mood to let their poll arithmetic go awry, the candidates made special efforts to reach out to as many voters as possible. The candidates also held meetings with their party leaders and workers to chalk out the schedule for tomorrow.

"It was a day crammed with poll-talk anddoor-to-door canvassing," said a supporter of Congress candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu.

Bittu, in keeping with his earlier poll pitch, discussed with the people the contributions and sacrifice of his grandfather late Chief Minister Beant Singh.

Bittu assured the Congress workers that their support and loyalty would be acknowledged. "Each and every worker of the Congress is my strength and it will be my foremost duty to be at their service," he said, displaying his trademark humility. Bittu's supporters said he would cast his vote early in the morning tomorrow at Kotli village.

Independent candidate Simarjit Singh Bains, during his door-to-door canvassing, declared: "The sun may rise in the West, but Bains will not join the Akali Dal." He appealed to the voters not to pay heed to rumours. In the evening, Bains held a meeting with his supporters, wherein it was decided that two supporters would be present in each of the polling booths across the constituency.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate HS Phoolka spent his day meeting the people he had not met during his campaign earlier. The AAP volunteers held a series of meetings to decide on 'booth management' for tomorrow.

For Akali Dal candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali, the door-to-door canvassing focused on 'Modi magic'. He appealed to the people to vote for the Akali Dal-BJP to make the BJP prime ministerial nominee, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. "This will ensure a bright future for Ludhiana," he promised.

Meanwhile, the candidates' supporters were engaged in number crunching. "They were seen working out the possible permutations and combinations in the nine Assembly segments comprising the Ludhiana Lok Sabha constituency that has more than 15 lakh voters. The migrant votes also figured in the poll arithmetic. Ludhiana has more than 6 lakh migrant population, out of which the majority is from Uttar Pradesh. The alleged distribution of liquor in slum areas also continued to be a matter of concern among some supporters."

Ludhiana, April 29
NOTA (none of the above) option will be used as a sign of discontent by voters, this time. Although it does not matter if the number of NOTA votes exceeds the number earned by the candidate with highest votes, the latter will be declared victorious. But like each and every vote does make a difference, NOTA can impact the final results.

There has been confusion over the option among the voters. They feel that if NOTA votes exceeded the number of the votes cast in favour of the winning candidate, even then the candidate with the highest number of votes will be declared the winner, then what difference does it make?

Radhika, a student, said: "What I understand is that voting is my right and rather than sitting at home and not casting my vote, I can voice my opinion through NOTA," she said.

Ludhiana, April 29
Assistant returning officers are a worried lot as the number of reserved electronic voting machines (EVMs) has been reduced to only five per cent of the total machines at various polling booths in the state during the Lok Sabha elections tomorrow.

In case some units are found to be non-operational at the time of voting, there will be only a limited number of units for replacement.

An assistant returning officer (ARO), wishing not to be quoted, said of the total 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab, this time from 10 constituencies, more than 15 candidates were contesting the poll.

"On one EVM, there are 16 rows—15 for candidates and one for the ‘none of the above’ (NOTA) option. Therefore, two units are needed at all polling booths in 10 constituencies,” said the ARO.

With there being a need to put more machines in operation across the state, only five per cent units can be reserved in comparison to 35 per cent units reserved in previous elections.

A Deputy Commissioner from another district said AROs under his jurisdiction, too, were worried about the limited number of reserved EVMs.

“It will become problematic in case EVMs fail to work. Today, when poll parties were dispatched, we got regular complaints of machines causing problems. Many districts are facing the same problem,” said the DC.

Acknowledging the problem, District Election Officer–cum–Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal said: “We will try to do our best with the limited number of electronic voting machines.”

Ludhiana, April 29
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) and the intelligence wing of the police are busy serving the political purpose.

The lower rung officials attached with candidates of rival parties or deputed to provide security cover at the political rallies report to their seniors and brief them about a candidate's chances of winning the elections.

The police officials provide the updates to their political bosses, who further formulate a strategy.

A police official said the local leaders are taken to task by their political bosses on the reports of voting trends and projections provided by cops.

"Recently, a senior leader of a political party held a meeting. His party workers assured him of winning the elections. But soon the senior leader placed a poll projection prepared by the police in front of the workers. It showed that the party was trailing," said a party insider. Besides providing poling projection, the police are also providing inputs to the politicians about the leaders who are having back-door understanding with the rival camp. "Instead of keeping a watch on the security scenario, the officials attached with the intelligence department have been reduced to mere puppets at the hands of politicians. Keeping a track of politicians is a part of their duty," said retired police officials.

Security up in city, highway given a miss

Security has been stepped up in the city. Nakas have been laid at various places and vehicles are being frisked. Police officials gave highway patrolling a miss. Not even a single police official was seen at the Sidhwan Bet area and Phillaur. “I came from Patiala this afternoon and could not spot even a single policeman on the road. It appears that the police have given an open invitation to liquor and drug peddlers,” said a city resident. 

Ludhiana, April 29
In a nation where criminals and undertrials can contest the elections and even get elected to the Lok Sabha, convicts and undertrials lodged in jails are not allowed to cast their vote.

Several leaders facing serious criminal charges are trying their luck in the Lok Sabha elections.

From Ludhiana, Simarjit Bains, who is out on bail in a case of assault,is contesting the poll as an Independent candidate.

He had allegedly stripped Tehsildar Major Gurjinder Singh Benipal (retd).

Around 28,000 convicts and undertrials lodged in various jails across the state will not be able to exercise their right to franchise on April 30.

IG (Jails) Jagjit Singh said, "The untertrials and convicts lodged in jails have no right to vote under the Representation of Peoples' Act."

Swaran Singh Phillaur, Minister for Jails, Punjab, said he would check with jail officials.

Section 62 (5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, states that no person will vote in any election if he/ she is confined in prison whether under sentences of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise. "The only exceptions to this are those detainees caught under preventive sections of the law," said Roop Kumar Arora, AIG (prisons).

"A ballot paper is sent to the detainee in prison and he can cast his vote. The paper is sent back to Returning Officers by the prisons department," said another jail official.

Punjab has a total of 26 prisons, including central jails, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Kapurthala and Gurdaspur. District jails at Nabha, Sangrur, Faridkot, Hoshiarpur Kapurthala, women jail at Ludhiana, one borstal jail at Ludhiana and 10 sub-jails, including Ropar, Patti, Pathankot, Dasuya, Fazilka and Moga, Muktsar, Barnala, Malerkotla and Phagwara.

"An undertrial who gets bail from a court of law is allowed to vote," said advocate Dalip Batish.

Ludhiana, April 29
With the Health Department’s plan to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras is still in limbo, the Police Department has installed four CCTV cameras at the hospital. Since a police post is also there on the hospital premises they needed cameras to keep a check on the happenings inside the hospital.

One CCTV camera has been installed outside the jan aushadi centre, one outside the burns unit, one each outside the emergency and at the entrance.

The Health Department's plan to install 40 CCTV cameras inside the civil hospital still hangs in fire and it attributes the delay to fund crunch.

Senior Medical Officer RK Karkara said: “There is already a fund crunch and we cannot afford to install CCTV cameras by spending from our pockets.

“Nearly 40 cameras will be installed in every ward and the department at an approximate cost of Rs 1.5 lakh. We have already written to the Director, Health Services, for funds regarding it. Once we receive the money, the work will be started. The present CCTV cameras have been installed by the Police Department,” Karkara said.

Fights among rival groups, undertrials fleeing from the hospital, negligence in treatment and the absence of doctors during duty hours have failed to wake up the Health Department. These issues have forced the Police Department to install the CCTV cameras.

An employee in the Health Department alleged: “It has been nearly four years when the project was first proposed but nothing has been done in this regard. The authorities should wake up and install cameras.”

A similar proposal was also made in 2010 by The Punjab Health System Corporation to install 196 CCTV cameras in six districts to keep a check on the behaviour of doctors with patients and also to step up vigil in Civil Hospitals. The Ludhiana Civil Hospital was on the list of hospitals shortlisted for the project.

Ludhiana, April 29
The mercury is rising and so is the demand of butter milk. Considered best by Punjabis to beat the heat, the demand for butter milk or better known as ‘lassi’ has increased manifold.

Bhushan Lal, a vendor, selling butter milk in the old city area, said he had to close his shop as early as 3pm sometimes, finishing up his day's supplies with the rise in demand.

“The demand has risen considerably and on the contrary the supply of milk has decreased with the onset of summers," he said.

While vendors of coolers make the most of the season, medical practitioners in the city have strictly warned citizens against the hygiene of fruits, juices and dairy products sold in the streets during summers as these could lead to severe health issues.

“The increased temperature mainly affects the elderly and children. Consuming local dairy products could prove to be dangerous if the water used is not filtered. I would suggest the use of bottled and sealed products," said a medical practitioner from the city.

Flavours have driven the demand of buttermilk further. Indian taste buds are always looking for some typical summer flavours when it comes to coolers and various brands are offering flavours like rose, mango, badam and pistachio.

Though the demand rises during the peak season, flavoured 'lassi' is becoming an all year round product.

Ludhiana, April 29
It will be a hot day when residents venture out to exercise their voting right tomorrow. While the mercury will rise to up to 40 degree Celcius during the day, the minimum temperature will remain around 20 degree.

Giving this information, Dr LK Dhaliwal, director, School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, said, “The weather will remain clear and sunny tomorrow."

Ensure potable water: DC

Keeping this in mind, District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal has instructed the officials concerned of the municipal corporation and all assistant returning officers to ensure availability of clean drinking water at all polling stations. Officials have also been told to carry out fogging at the stations.

Health centres to stay open

Health centres, dispensaries and hospitals will remain open and doctors and other staff will be on duty to deal with any emergency tomorrow. The dispensaries will remain open from 7 am to 7 pm. Civil Surgeon, Dr Subhash Batta said the Health Department had provided medical kits to poll officials. "First-aid and ORS sachets are available at booths. As many as 3,000 kits have been distributed in the district," he said. The Civil Surgeon advised the people not to take children along with them. He said the elderly could sit under the shade and wait for their turn, adding that physically challenged persons should not be made to wait.

No procurement today

Procurement of wheat will not take place in grain markets on the poll day. The district administration has taken the decision to ensure that every person comes out to vote besides for the reason that the staff involved in procurement will be busy performing election duty. The district administration has also appealed to farmers to not bring their produce to grain markets.

Ludhiana, April 29
As the state goes to polls tomorrow, city residents want to be on the side of the winning candidate, not wanting their vote to go waste.

With the city witnessing a four-cornered contest between SAD-BJP pick Manpreet Singh Ayali, Congress candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu, AAP nominee HS Phoolka and Independent contestant Simarjit Singh Bains, Ludhianvis are busy discussing prospects of these candidates.

Never in the past has the city witnessed such a poll buzz, involving all segments of society from young to old and from rich to poor.

At homes, offices, market places, restaurants and gymnasiums--everywhere political discussions can be heard.

“I do not want to vote for a losing candidate. I am discussing the prospects of various candidates with my family members and friends to decide my preferred candidate,” said Sanjiv Sharma, a banker.

A group of youngsters discussing politics at an eatery said the poll had never affected them like it did this time.

“Our mobile phones are filled with messages and videos on political parties and politicians. Our news feed on Facebook is occupied by politicos. There are people who might have never voted in their life, but are holding placards to urge residents to vote for a particular group that promises to cleanse the system of corruption. We are confused as to who to vote for," asked the youngsters. 

Jagraon, April 29
Despite an apology tendered by Punjab Revenue and Public Relations Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia for allegedly distorting the Gurbani during a public rally, the anger prevailing among the Sikh community against him does not seem to be dying down.

The members of various Sikh and religious organisations today staged a protest against Cabinet minister Majithia at the Rani Jhansi Chowk, Jagraon, for hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs by distorting the Gurbani.

A large number of granthis (priests), ragis and representatives of various Sikh organisations, led by International Sikh Parcharak Sabha president Pritpal Singh Paras, took part in the protest. Protesters raised slogans against the minister. They also burnt an effigy of the minister.

While speaking on the occasion, Pritpal Singh Paras said Majithia had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community by distorting the Gurbani.

They demanded from Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to expel Majithia from the party for disrespect shown by him for the Gurbani.

Majithia had courted a controversy by distorting a Shabad in the Gurbani during a public rally in Amritsar while campaigning for the SAD-BJP candidate for the Lok Sabha elections from Amritsar a few days ago.

The protesters also urged Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh to assign 'tankha' (religious punishment) to Majithia for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community.

Mandi Ahmedgarh/Raikot/ Payal, April 29
The police have beefed up security ahead of polling for the Lok Sabha tommorrow. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gill, Gurpreet Singh Sikand; Deputy Superintendent of Police, Amargarh, Gurmit Singh; and circle officers at Payal and Raikot, Balwinder Singh Bhikhi and Satnam Singh Bains respectively, said security had been strengthened in and around polling stations and busy markets.

Anti-sabotage teams, specially constituted for the elections, have been directed to enhance vigil near designated places, besides undertaking combing operations to check the entry of anti-social elements.

Besides stepping up the night vigil, the police have set up special checkpoints and intensified patrolling throughout the area.

Policemen have been asked to keep in touch fire and health departments officials, so that rescue operation in case of any eventuality can be started without delay. Also, extra forces have been deputed in almost all localities and public buildings housing polling booths.

Combing operation

Teams of policemen, supervised by their respective station house officers at Dehlon, Payal, Malaudh, Sudhar, Jodhan, Lohatbaddi and Latala undertook combing operations in localities situated under their jurisdiction last night.

Senior officials said the exercise was done to boost the morale of residents and ensure their safety during the polling process.

Ludhiana, April 29
The District Education Officer (DEO) wrote to all government, private, government-aided and affiliated schools to adopt precautionary measures to prevent diseases like dengue and malaria.

Charanjit Singh, District Education Officer (Secondary), said a meeting with Additional Deputy Commissioner Baldev Singh was organised in this regard and it was decided to make the school authorities and students aware of the prevention of dengue and malaria.

The DEO gave instructions to heads of all government, private and government-aided schools to make students aware of preventive measures against such diseases.

"The school authorities will instruct students to cover their legs, feet and arms to prevent mosquito bites. They will also arrange fogging in schools," Dr Charanjit said.

The schools were also told to keep their premises neat and clean. The DEO asked schools to remove stagnant water from their premises and surroundings.

Dr Charanjit said: "The schools will submit a certificate on every Monday mentioning that there is no breeding site on the school premises. Teams from the District Education Department will also check the status of schools."

ADC holds meeting

A meeting was organised today by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Baldev Singh to discuss about the preventive measures to be taken against dengue and malaria.

District Education Officer Charanjit Singh said mails had been sent to all government, private, aided and affiliated schools to make students aware of the diseases like malaria and dengue and how to take precautionary measures against them. Schools have been asked to make students aware during the morning assembly to save themselves from mosquito bites. In addition to this every Monday school heads will provide a certificate proving that there is no breeding site for the mosquitoes on the school premises.

To encourage and instill a sense of confidence in students, the Sportking Institute of Fashion Technology (SIFT) is organising an exhibition, 'Glam n Glitter', on May 3-4 in which the collections created by the final year students will be displayed. The two-day exhibition would be held at the Sutlej Club. A pre-exhibition display was held in the institute where the students gave presentations based on their creations and explained the themes and inspirations behind them. The students have made these garments inspired by varied themes like lightening, Mardi-grass, Hookah, Convertible Bridge, Krishna and Royal Jodha.

Sportspersons felicitated

The RIMT, Mandi Gobindgarh, honoured the outstanding sportspersons for winning laurels to the Institute during the 2013-2014 session. Founder chairman Hukam Chand Bansal and visionary Chairman Vijayant Bansal appreciated the efforts made by the students. The institute awarded Rs 27,500 to the table tennis team for winning a silver medal in the PTU Inter-College Tournament. A cash award of Rs 25,000 was awarded to the basketball team for winning a bronze medal in the PTU Inter-College Tournament. For individual events, it awarded Rs 15,000 to Manjot Kaur of Computer Science Department for Winning the overall trophy and eight gold medals in Swimming. Ishtpreet Singh of the Electrical Department was awarded Rs 6,000 for his national-level inter-university participation in a lawn tennis tournament held at SRM University, Chennai, and Harjot Kaur of the Civil Department was given Rs 6,000 for his national-level intervarsity participation in a shooting tournament held at Panjab University, Chandigarh. The students were also given mementoes and certificates on the occasion. Director, RIMT Engineering Campus, Harsh Sadawarti, delivered the welcome speech. — TNS