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BTC polls today

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 8 � The stage is set for the polls to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) tomorrow amidst tight security arrangements and 198 candidates are in fray for 40 seats of the council.

With the BTC area having a history of poll related violence, the State Election Commission has made elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident and three senior police officers of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP) have been entrusted the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the area.

Altogether 18.62 lakh voters of four districts under the BTC will exercise their franchise in 2678 polling stations.

The ruling Bodoland People�s Front (BPF) has fielded candidates in all the 40 constituencies, while, the Congress has fielded candidates in 23 constituencies. As many as 110 candidates are independents. However, the number of independent candidates went up because the Bodoland People�s Progressive Front (BPPF) candidates are contesting as independents.

Our Bongaigaon correspondent adds: Security is the main concern for the BTC polls and 55 polling stations of the district are considered very sensitive, 121 are marked as sensitive and 68 are considered comparatively safe, said Bongaigaon Deputy Commissioner UN Bora. He said that armed guards have been posted in the very sensitive polling stations, while, mobile squads of the police and security personnel are patrolling the vulnerable areas of the district.

Meanwhile, most of the people of Simlaguri village near New Bongaigaon have decided to refrain from exercising their franchise as they are opposed to the inclusion of the village in the BTC.

Our Udalguri correspondent adds: Amid a total security blanket all the 795 polling station officials for the ten constituencies of Udalguri district today left for polling duties for the second BTC elections along with other three districts to be held tomorrow from 8 am.

There are a total of 795 polling stations in the ten constituencies which are considered to be sensitive.

Meanwhile, 19 companies of security forces have been deployed and the Udalguri district administration has appealed to all concerned to maintain peace during the election hours.

It is to be noted that even though army is not engaged, the army jawans are entrusted to dominate the entire area for security concern only.

Meanwhile, anomalies in distribution of polling materials created anger among a section of polling officials. A section of polling officials alleged that they did not get identity cards due to anomalies in the personnel department.

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