Poll chief seeks flying squads

State Chief Election Officer Banwarlal has asked officials to make elaborate arrangements to conduct MLC elections for Mahabubnagar-Ranga Reddy-Hyderabad graduates’ constituency in a free and fair manner. The voting will be conducted from 8 am to 4 pm on March 22.

Banwarlal interacted with collectors of various districts through video conference from the Secretariat on Friday and enquired about the arrangements made for polling. “Voters should write numbers in ballot paper by using violet colour pen which would be make available in polling booths,” he said. Instructing the collectors to appoint flying squads to prevent the distribution of money and liquor on the day of election, Banwarlal asked officials to take necessary measures to close wine shops from 4 pm on March 20. Voters can use any of 12 photo identity cards including epic cards finalised by the election commission to exercise their voting.

Banwarlal said blind or old age voters should approach assistant returning officers (DROs) three days before to appoint assistants to help them in voting. Stating that the option of NOTA would be there in the ballot paper, he said that voters could enquire the details of their polling station by calling up toll free number 1950. He asked the collectors to make drinking water, tents and electricity arrangements in all polling booths. Ranga Reddy collector, M Raghunandan Rao said that about 1,37,260 voters are going to exercise their franchise in 170 polling stations.