Expect a tighter crackdown on electoral fraud

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is increasing the number of flying squads and static surveillance teams in the city in order to check electoral fraud in the run-up to the April 18 polling day.

Security checks would be tightened for 72 hours leading up to the polling day. “We will check all Kalyana Mantapas (convention centres) and community kitchens. People organising functions at these places must produce all the details when asked,” BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad, who is also the District Election Officer for Bengaluru Urban, told a press conference on Saturday.

The 48 hours before the polling day will be declared dry days, meaning a complete ban on the sale of alcohol. Supporters of any political party or candidate cannot walk in groups, he said. On the polling day, 1,000 NCC volunteers will be out in the streets, helping those in need, especially the physically challenged and the elderly.

As many as 300 Ola cabs will ferry handicapped voters for free. “We have a list of differently-abled people and their addresses. Ola cabs will pick them up from the doorstep and take them to the polling station. Each cab will ferry seven people,” Prasad said.

Polling stations will have all the necessary facilities such as drinking water, toilets, first aid kits, furniture, electricity etc, he added.