Tamil Nadu - Salem   

`Bribing voters will invite disqualification of candidates'

Special Correspondent

Nearly 13 lakh to cast vote for local body polls

FINAL TOUCHES: Collector N. Mathivanan (extreme right) inspecting the transportation of election materials in Salem on Thursday. Election observer E. Dasarathan (second from right) is also seen.- Photo: P. Goutham

SALEM: Nearly 13 lakh voters will exercise their franchise to elect candidates for various local bodies, including Salem Corporation and Attur municipality during the first phase of polls on Friday.

Polling materials

The District Election Officer and Collector Mathivanan said that arrangements for tomorrow's polls were almost over.

"Polling materials and polling officials, including the 15 poll stations in hilly regions had reached the destinations," he said and sought the help of public to hold the polls peacefully.

60 wards

The first phase of polls in the district would cover Salem Corporation's 60 wards, Attur municipality, Narasingapuram IIIrd grade town panchayat, 8 panchayat unions and 14 town panchayats. Of the 13 lakh voters, 7.77 lakh voters would vote in urban pockets while the rest would exercise their franchise in rural areas.

Election Observer E. Dasarathan told the reporters here on Thursday that he had received three poll-related complaints from Belur and Jalakandapuram that attempts were being made to `bribe' the voters.

Investigations

He said that he had carried out spot investigations. He also warned that any attempt to bribe voters, if proved, would invite disqualification of the candidates.

Security arrangements

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sakthivel detailed the security arrangements in the city and its suburbs.

He also said that 220 booths had been identified as `sensitive' in Salem city where the security would be bolstered. The security in "cluster of booths' would be enhanced, he said.

TN, Kerala police

Salem SP Bhaskaran pointed out that the first phase of the polls would have 1,349 booths in rural areas for which men from Armed Reserve, Tamil Nadu Special Police, Kerala Armed Police and non-police like NSS volunteers would be pressed into service for security. Salem Corporation Commissioner A. Serlvam said that arrangements for the Corporation polls in all the 60 wards had been completed.

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