NTR collector monitors polling

Vijayawada: NTR district collector Dr G Lakshmisha said elaborate arrangements had been made to ensure that the urban local body elections were conducted in a free, fair and transparent atmosphere, without any scope for pressure, inducements or irregularities.

On Sunday, as polling was held for Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) and the municipalities of Kondapalli, Tiruvuru, Nandigama and Jaggaiahpet, the Collector monitored the polling process from the command control centre at the Collectorate from the morning.

He reviewed the polling situation and conditions at various polling stations and issued necessary instructions to officials concerned from time to time. He directed officials of all departments to work in coordination to ensure that polling proceeded smoothly and every voter could exercise their franchise freely without any pressure or inducement.

Later, Dr Lakshmisha inspected a polling station set up at KBN College in Vijayawada. He examined the basic facilities provided to voters, including drinking water and queue arrangements, the performance of polling personnel and implementation of election guidelines. He also enquired about the measures taken to ensure the smooth conduct of polling.

Meanwhile, 1,100 National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers from 15 colleges actively participated in election-related services, demonstrating their commitment to social responsibility. The volunteers reported for duty at 6 am and assisted voters at polling stations throughout the day. They helped regulate queues, manage the movement of voters and maintain discipline at polling stations in coordination with police personnel.

Special assistance was provided to elderly persons, persons with disabilities and other voters who needed support to exercise their franchise without difficulty. District NSS Coordinator Dr Kolleti Ramesh played a key role in guiding and coordinating the volunteers during the election duties.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dasari Srinivasa Rao

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Dasari Srinivasa Rao is a Staff Reporter with The Hans India, covering NTR and Krishna districts, with a primary focus on Vijayawada. He has 32 years of experience in journalism. His reporting spans a wide range of beats, including city and rural development, politics, irrigation, education, crime, and human-interest stories.

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