Gurugram aims at 70 per cent polling at 1,500 booths

The Gurugram administration has set a goal of achieving 70 per cent polling in all four Assembly segments of the district, especially in Gurugram city.

The local administration and authorities have taken numerous steps to achieve the goal in the city, which is generally among the poorest performers in each poll. From setting up booths in high-rise societies to deputing at least 3,000 volunteers, the team, led by District Election Officer-cum- Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav, said they were all set for the election season, starting today. According to the administration, over 14,97,000 voters in the district were to vote at the 1,504 booths. “We have set up 126 special booths in high-rise buildings, which will benefit around 1,50,000 voters. 12,000 polling staff and 3,000 volunteers will aid in the process,” said Yadav while addressing the media here today.

“The district will have 200 sensitive booths with the police, paramilitary forces and administrative officials deployed here to ensure peaceful polling. Orders have been issued to all licensed weapon holders under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Security Code, 2023 to deposit their weapons at the nearest police stations or with registered weapon dealers. However, banks/authorised security guards, police and other public servants on security duty will be exempt,” he said.

Orders have also been issued to keep liquor shops in the district closed 48 hours prior to polling and on the day of counting. The DC urged people to not link any kind of religious event to political activities during the Assembly elections. He said such behaviour would be considered a violation of the code of conduct and appropriate action would be taken. Yadav also said that of the 214 complaints received on the C-vigil app against the violation of the Model Code of Conduct, 211 were resolved in a timely manner. “We want more and more people to turn up for voting,” he said. He also said that letters had been sent to all RWAs, urging them to cooperate in the voting process and the RWA with the highest numbers of participants would be felicitated after the elections. To encourage first-time voters to exercise their right, awareness programmes were being organised at colleges and universities across the district. “Like in the Lok Sabha elections, we are also providing vote-from-home facilities to disabled voters along with pick and drop,” added Yadav.