Maharashtra and Haryana will go to polls today to elect new assemblies. Polling, which will begin at 7 AM, will end at 6 PM, except in some naxal affected areas of Maharashtra where it will be completed by 3 PM. While 4,119 candidates including 276 women are in the fray for 288 member Maharashtra Assembly, 1,351 candidates are trying their luck for 90 member Haryana Assembly. Counting of votes in both the states will be taken up on Sunday.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polling especially in Naxal affected districts of Gondia and Garhchiroli in Maharashtra. More than 2,300 polling stations have been identified as sensitive and extra precautions are being taken there.
All sensitive booths are being manned by the central Para military forces. 390 companies of central para military forces have also been deployed in addition to state police and security forces from other states.
Election Commission has deployed five police observers to look into security arrangements in sensitive districts of Garhchiroli, Gondia, Nasik, Thane, Pune, Palghar, Mumbai, Sindhudurg and Nanded. Indian Air Force helicopters have been deployed for aerial surveillance. In Mumbai, about 40,000 policemen, including paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of polling.
Voting will also take place today for Beed Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra. A total of 12 candidates including 3 women are in fray for the bye elections. Bye election in Beed was necessitated after death of senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde.
In Haryana, 50,000 police personnel including para-military forces have been deployed to ensure peaceful polling. Constant vigil is being maintained on persons and vehicles in all border areas of Haryana. Flying squads are patrolling the state to ensure smooth conduct of elections.
Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana, Shrikant Walgad said, a total of 2,700 booths have been identified as sensitive. He said, video cameras and CCTV cameras have been installed and web casting is being done to monitor the election process. Micro Observers have also been deployed at all polling booths.
