Guwahati, April 8 More than 1.5 lakh security personnel have been deployed as part of the arrangements for Thursday's polling in Assam, which will determine the fate of the 722 candidates hoping to enter the 126-member state Assembly.
Officials said that 31,940 polling stations have been set up in 35 districts for the single-phase polling. Micro-observers have been stationed at sensitive polling stations.
The results will be announced on May 4.
While most personnel left for the polling stations on Wednesday morning, those deployed in remote areas such as the Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts left on Tuesday itself, Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel said.
Additional polling personnel are also on standby, he added.
Assam police chief Harmeet Singh said that all security arrangements have been completed under the guidance of the Election Commission and with the help of central forces.
Of the total polling stations, 126—one for each constituency—have been designated as model polling stations. As many as 4,021 booths will be managed by all-women personnel, with Cachar district having the highest number of 398.
Fifteen polling stations will be managed by persons with disabilities, of which six are in Kamrup district.
The Assam government has declared a public holiday on Thursday for all government and private offices, as well as urban local bodies, educational institutions, and business and commercial establishments.
Goel said that webcasting has been enabled in all stations to allow real-time monitoring of the polling processes from the offices of the district election officers, the chief electoral officer, and the Election Commission of India.
Basic facilities, including drinking water, waiting areas, toilets, and wheelchairs for persons with disabilities, have been ensured at all polling stations.
A total of 2.50 crore voters, comprising 1.25 crore men, 1.25 crore women, and 318 from the transgender community, will decide the fate of the 722 candidates in the fray. Among the electorate, 63,423 are service voters, 6,42,314 voters are in the age group of 18-19 years, 2,50,006 are above 80 years of age, and 2,05,085 are persons with disabilities.
The Election Commission has allowed senior citizens above the age of 85 years and identified persons with disabilities to exercise their franchise from home.
Chief Electoral Officer Goel appealed to all stakeholders to extend their cooperation in ensuring that every citizen is able to exercise their democratic right to vote.