The police districts of Batala, Pathankot and Gurdaspur have made tight security
The police districts of Batala, Pathankot and Gurdaspur have made tight security arrangements to ensure peaceful polling tomorrow in the Lok Sabha byelection.
Following an Election Commission directive, several politicians who were camping in the constituency for the past few days have left. There were reports that some senior Congress leaders refused to leave. However, Returning Officer GS Sidhu claimed that no “outsider” was present. “Only the contesting candidates and the state heads of the parties have been allowed to stay,” he said. Paramilitary forces have been deployed in all polling stations which have been declared sensitive or hypersensitive.
Gurdaspur will become the first parliamentary constituency in the country where all polling stations will have Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines. This device gives the voter using an EVM confirmation about his vote.
Security personnel have been stationed at every 20 yards and vehicles are being checked randomly. Checking was intensified here today after reports that crates of liquor were being transported to villages from the city , despite the prohibition order.
ECI allows alternative IDs
Chandigarh: The ECI has allowed voters to use alternative identity cards as proof of identity. A spokesman said those who did not have the elector photo identity card (EPIC, also called voter ID card) could exercise their franchise using documents such as the Aadhaar card, passport, driving licence or service ID cards (with photo) issued by central/state governments or public sector undertakings.
The EC has also allowed the use of bank or post office passbooks with photos, PAN card, MGNREGA job card, health insurance smart card, pension documents and authenticated voter slips for the purpose. — TNS
Chhotepur incommunicado
A senior APP leader said: “Our president’s conduct in the past two days has aroused suspicion. He is not only inaccessible, but has also not reacted to HS Kingra and RR Bhardwaj’s announcement in favour of the BJP candidate. It shows that he has made a pact with the
Dominance in Majha at stake
The Gurdaspur byelection has underlined the fierce rivalry between Congress and Akali leaders in Majha. The result, to be declared on October 15, will tell who gets to boast about “Majhe da sardari”.
Congress leaders Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa have thrown their weight behind party candidate Sunil Jakhar, while prominent Akali leaders — party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia are backing BJP’s Swaran Salaria.
Majithia, who earned the sobriquet “Majhe da jarnail” during the SAD-BJP’s 10-year rule, finds himself on a sticky wicket after the Congress made deep inroads into the border region in this year’s Assembly elections. The Sucha Singh Langah episode has been another spoiler for the Akali Dal.
Sidhu, who switched over from the BJP to the Congress in the run-up to the Assembly polls, and Randhawa have emerged as powerful leaders for the ruling party in Majha. Both are known for never missing any opportunity to target the SAD.
Who will bag the bragging rights in a region with a predominantly feudal mindset? We will know the answer on Sunday.