BARPETA, March 13 - With the schedule for parliamentary elections announced, the district administration in Barpeta is working round-the-clock for its smooth conduct. This was informed by the Deputy Commissioner of Barpeta Munindra Sarma, who is also the Returning Officer for this Lok Sabha constituency.
Addressing a press conference in the conference hall of his office, Sarma informed that 16,65,680 voters will exercise their franchise in the forthcoming poll scheduled on April 23 next. Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency consists of ten Assembly segments out of which three, namely, Bongaigaon, North Abhayapuri and South Abhayapuri belong to Bongaigaon district and Dharmapur belongs to Nalbari district. While Barpeta, Chenga, Jania, Baghbar and Sarukshetri belong to Barpeta election district, Patacharkuchi belongs to Bajali election district.
With 1,95,495 voters Barpeta Assembly segment tops the list, followed by Sarukshetri with 1,93,291 and Abhayapuri South with 1,91,672 voters. Bongaigaon (1,70467), Abhayapuri North (1,64,552), Patacharkuchi (1,38,581), Jania (1,87,854), Baghabar (1,55,002), Chenga (1,34,796) and Dharmapur have (1,33,970) electors on the rolls.
The Barpeta election district alone has 1080651 voters in its five Assembly segments. The Returning Officer informed that 1,02,4650 voters have got the Electronic Photo Identity Cards till now.
The district administration has completed the location details of all the 1354 polling stations in the election district and has also analysed information regarding sensitivity of polling stations. Altogether 61 polling stations have been marked as critical, 118 as very sensitive, 674 as sensitive and 562 as comparatively safe. Hundred polling stations in the district have been proposed for webcasting. Two polling stations � one in Barpeta Vidyapeeth Higher Secondary School and another in no. 1122 Nursery cum Primary School � have been declared as all women polling stations as they will be run solely by female officials. Ninety-one polling stations under Baghbar and 49 polling stations under Chenga Assembly segments are located in char and remote areas where the polling parties will be sent two days ahead of the poll day.
The election district of Barpeta has been divided into 151 sectors under 29 zones and the administration has already completed appointment of Zonal Officers and Sector Officers. Presiding and polling officers have also been appointed and training for all the personnel have been arranged. Besides, measures have been taken to educate the voters about the importance of voting and so far 51106 electors have been made aware of the poll process against a target of one lakh. All the cells necessary for smooth conduct of the entire process have been formed and some of them have started functioning.
Notification for Barpeta parliamentary constituency will be issued on March 28 and the last day for submission of nomination is April 4 next. Nominations will be scrutinised on April 5 and the last day of withdrawal will be April 8.
