BHUBANESWAR: The measures that were to taken to ensure smooth conduct of the coming three-tier panchayat polls in the State were discussed in detail at the meeting of the District Collectors and Superintendents of Police here on Friday.

The meeting was convened by the State Election Commission. Election Commissioner Sanjib Hota, who presided over the meeting, urged the District Collectors and Superintendents of Police to take all measures for making the polls trouble-free.

Apart from the District Collectors and Superintendents of all the 30 districts of the State, Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy, Director General of Police Amarananda Patnaik attended the meeting and presented their views. The meeting decided that a master plan will be prepared by January 25 to identify the sensitive booths and finalise security arrangements. The ballot papers will be transported to different areas from the respective District Treasuries on January 31.

There would be a total of 87,542 booths across the State to conduct the polls in five phases on February 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 for the election of 87,542 ward members, 6,233 Panchayat samiti members, 6234 sarpanches and 854 zilla parishad members.

Talking to presspersons after the meeting, Mr. Hota informed that each booth will have one presiding officer and three polling officers.

Water marks

Armed security personnel will be deployed at the sensitive booths and those in the naxal affected areas, he added. The Election Commissioner informed that ballot papers of different colours were being printed for the posts of ward Members, sarpanches and panchayat samiti members. All ballot papers will have water marks to prevent duplicity, he added.

Mr. Hota also urged the State police and the Panchayati Raj Department to fill up the vacant posts to ensure that enough people were available for polling .

As regards the alleged violation of the model code of conduct on December 26 by some Ministers belonging to the ruling Biju Janata Dal, Mr. Hota said that notices will be issued the Ministers concerned.

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