Assembly elections begin in Uttarakhand
Polling commenced on Monday in 70 Assembly constituencies in Uttarakhand amid tight security with over 60 lakh voters expected to exercise their franchise in the single-phased elections.
Over 63 lakh electorates will decide the fate of 788 candidates with the top contenders from the ruling BJP and Congress contesting all the 70 seats.
Top state leaders, including chief minister B C Khanduri from Kotdwar, former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank from Doiwala, Leader of Opposition Harak Singh Rawat from Rudraprayag and PCC chief Yashpal Arya from Baajpur seats will try their luck at the polls.
Polling commenced at 0800 hrs and would end at 5 pm, Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer Radha Raturi said.
She said elaborate arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of polling and all the personnel deployed in high-altitude areas have been provided with sleeping bags, snow-boot and jackets.
An Indian Airforce helicopter has also been stationed at Sarsawa as part of rescue efforts to meet with any eventuality, Raturi added.
She said 9744 polling booths have been set up across the state out of which 1794 stations have been declared as 'sensitive' and 1252 as 'hyper-sensitive'.
A total of 75 companies of Central paramilitary force besides 10,000 home guards from Uttar Pradesh, 2000 home guards from Himachal Pradesh and 10,000 personnel from Uttarakhand Police have been deployed for the polls.
Raturi said nearly Rs 1.40 crore in cash has so far been seized in various parts of the state. Apart from it, nearly 14,000 litres of liquor was also seized during the period, she said, adding 103 cases of violation of election code of conduct were also registered against various candidates in the state.
All government, non-government offices, schools, colleges, industrial establishments and shops have been asked to remain closed today, the official said.
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