Kolkata, May 6: Ahead of the third phase of polling in West Bengal’s four Lok Sabha seats, the Election Commission of India has directed the polling authorities to ensure a special arrangement for comfort of voters so that the current heat wave cannot deter the electorate from casting votes, especially for elders, women, and PWD (Visual impairment; speech and hearing disability) at the polling stations.
The poll panel has been directed to erect elongated shades in front of the polling stations, equipped with adequate supplies of drinking water, storage of ORS and sitting arrangements under the shade for elders, women and PWD voters.
The emergency medical kits will be kept at the multiple booth premises and at cluster basis for single premises, an ECI statement said on Sunday.
The ECI also asked to install fans for voters as well as for the poll personnel.
After two phases of elections, three seats each in north Bengal’s Cooch Behar seat, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri in the 1st phase on April 19, the second phase of polling also ended peacefully at Darjeeling, Balurghat and Raiganj in south and north Dinapur, respectively.
Over 7.3 million electorates are expected to cast votes for four LS seats of Malda (Uttar), Malda (Dakshin), Jangipur, and Murshidabad on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, thousands and hundreds of polling personnel on Monday are taking preparations to collect the necessary gadgets from pre-determined centres to move to their polling stations, where the Central armed forces are already posted to ensure peaceful voting.
Some 334 companies of CAPF are being deployed, one-third at volatile bordering Murshidabad LS. (UNI)
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