Usually Coimbatore city does not witness any poll-related violence, but the election commission (EC) has identified close to 20 polling booths in Kavundampalayam constituency as vulnerable to Maoist attacks. The EC has beefed up security in these booths to allow smooth voting for people.
The number of vulnerable polling stations in the district has also marginally come down to 273 this time from 280 in 2011. "In the past 10 years, Coimbatore hasn't reported any poll-related violence and elections were held very peacefully. The polling stations earmarked as vulnerable and critical are based on untoward incidents reported some 10 years back or even before," said an election commission official.
The EC has identified five polling stations, three in Sulur and two in Mettupalayam, as "critical".
A polling booth is declared critical based on a number of factors. They include high number of non-epic voters, high number of missing voters without family linkage and where above 90% voter turnout is reported of which 75% is polled for a particular candidate. Those located in vulnerable pockets and the ones with a history of re-poll owing to electoral malpractices, incidents of violence and low polling percentage are also declared critical polling booths.
The election commission, on the other hand, defines vulnerability of a polling booth based on susceptibility of any voter or a section of voters, whether or not living in a geographically identifiable area, presence of factors or people who can influence or intimidate voters.
In another important step, the election commission on Thursday increased the number of poll flying squad teams in Coimbatore to 596.
According to a statement released by the district collector cum district election officer, Archana Patnaik, there were 241 zonal teams, 36 flying squads and 30 static surveillance teams for the 10 constituencies in Coimbatore.
On Thursday, as per the orders of the Election Commission of India, the existing 241 zonal teams and 30 static surveillance teams were converted to flying squads. Also, the 48 surveillance teams under various police stations were converted to flying squads.
"We started off with 10 flying squads, one for each constituency. Then, as per EC's orders we increased the flying squads in Thondamuthur and Pollachi constituencies, as they were expenditure sensitive. By increasing the number of flying squad teams to 596, we will be in a better position to tackle cash distribution by political parties," said district collector Archana Patnaik.
The number of vulnerable polling stations in the district has also marginally come down to 273 this time from 280 in 2011. "In the past 10 years, Coimbatore hasn't reported any poll-related violence and elections were held very peacefully. The polling stations earmarked as vulnerable and critical are based on untoward incidents reported some 10 years back or even before," said an election commission official.
The EC has identified five polling stations, three in Sulur and two in Mettupalayam, as "critical".
A polling booth is declared critical based on a number of factors. They include high number of non-epic voters, high number of missing voters without family linkage and where above 90% voter turnout is reported of which 75% is polled for a particular candidate. Those located in vulnerable pockets and the ones with a history of re-poll owing to electoral malpractices, incidents of violence and low polling percentage are also declared critical polling booths.
The election commission, on the other hand, defines vulnerability of a polling booth based on susceptibility of any voter or a section of voters, whether or not living in a geographically identifiable area, presence of factors or people who can influence or intimidate voters.
In another important step, the election commission on Thursday increased the number of poll flying squad teams in Coimbatore to 596.
According to a statement released by the district collector cum district election officer, Archana Patnaik, there were 241 zonal teams, 36 flying squads and 30 static surveillance teams for the 10 constituencies in Coimbatore.
On Thursday, as per the orders of the Election Commission of India, the existing 241 zonal teams and 30 static surveillance teams were converted to flying squads. Also, the 48 surveillance teams under various police stations were converted to flying squads.
"We started off with 10 flying squads, one for each constituency. Then, as per EC's orders we increased the flying squads in Thondamuthur and Pollachi constituencies, as they were expenditure sensitive. By increasing the number of flying squad teams to 596, we will be in a better position to tackle cash distribution by political parties," said district collector Archana Patnaik.