Mizoram polls: Authorities connect all polling booths with wireless communication ## Mizoram polls: Authorities connect all polling booths with wireless communication

Gearing up its entire machinery for assembly polls in Mizoram, the authorities have decided to connect all polling booths through wireless communication for the first time leaving no "shadow areas" at all.

Mizoram, having a difficult hilly terrain, is going for assembly elections on Wednesday to elect 40 MLAs.

"For the first time in Mizoram's election history, all polling booths will be covered by wireless communication. It will help in timely reporting of every development and progress of the polling," Mizoram Deputy Inspector General of Police (Training & Armed Branch) Joseph Lalchhuana told PTI in an interview.

Till the last election in 2014 for the Lok Sabha, not all areas were connected through wirless technology and there was a delay in receiving information from far-flung booths, he added.

Lalchhuana, who is also the Assistant State Police Nodal Officer for the assembly elections, said: "By doing this (wireless connection), we have eliminated all shadow areas from Mizoram. Shadow areas means the place where there is no communication."

For operating the system as per the Election Commission of India guidelines, special training sessions were conducted for the Mizoram Police personnel and now everything is in place to conduct the polls efficiently, he added.

"We take pride in it. We have tested it under the direct supervision of our DGP Balaji Srivastava and are fully confident of supporting the Election Commission as and when required," Lalchhuana said.

Mizoram has 7,70,395 registered voters who will cast their franchise in 1,164 polling booths across the state, while an additional 15 special booths have been created at Kanhmun village in Mamit district for the Bru refugees coming from six camps in Tripura.

Lalchhuana said that during the poll campaigning, which ended last evening, the Mizoram Police had formed 84 flying squads, 39 dynamic check posts, 80 static surveillance teams and 80 quick response teams across the state to prevent any unlawful activities.

"We have over 50 zonal police officers in the rank of DSP to SP. They are looking at the macro security arrangements in their respective areas. Above them, we have four grid DIGs along with the existing two range DIGs for overall responsibility," he added.

Mizoram has 38 police stations and it has recently set up five new outposts for ease of surveillance and confidence-building among voters.

"The total sanctioned strength of Mizoram Police is around 13,000 personnel, but we have around 9,000 persons at present. They all will be involved in the poll process," the DIG said.

Mizoram Police is being assisted in its poll-related activities by 40 companies of central armed police forces (CAPF), comprising personnel from BSF, SSB, CRPF and Assam Police.

Lalchhuana said special attention has been given along the state's borders with Assam, Manipur and Tripura, while the Mizoram DGP has sought cooperation from his counterparts in these states.

"At four inter-state border points, we are monitoring the movement of people through CCTV. This is a new initiative and we installed it before the poll process started," he added.

Lalchhuana also praised the public for cooperation in overall peace-keeping efforts during the election campaign across the state.

He appreciated the people for depositing their licenced arms as soon as the election notification was announced despite this being the harvest season that typically sees attacks by wild boars on farmers' produce.

"We are repeatedly thanking the people for their cooperation. Mizoram has a track record of holding free and fair polls in the past. I had joined in 1986 and since then, I have witnessed no violence before or after the polling or after declaration of results," Lalchhuana said.

The ruling Congress and the main opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) have fielded 40 candidates each, while the BJP is looking to open its account in the state for the first time by contesting in 39 seats.

The Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), an alliance formed by two political parties and four groups, is contesting in 35 seats.

Counting of votes will be taken up on December 11.

Nov 27, 2018 6:20 PM

Mizoram Assembly Election polls will begin at 7 am tomorrow and will end at 4pm, except for Bru areas where it ends at 3pm. 11,987 Bru voters will exercise franchise at 15 special polling booths have been set up in Kanhmun of Mamit district.

Nov 27, 2018 6:12 PM

Congress releases manifesto for Telangana elections ## Congress releases manifesto for Telangana elections

Nov 27, 2018 6:05 PM

Congress releases manifesto for Telangana elections ## Congress releases manifesto for Telangana elections

Nov 27, 2018 5:50 PM

On the eve of Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls,Shivraj Singh Chouhan said pro-incumbency and not ant-incumbency, is at play in the central Indian state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and BJP chief Amit Shah addressed poll rallies in the state, where voting for all the 230 Assembly seats is scheduled on Wednesday.

Nov 27, 2018 5:46 PM

Taking a jibe at PM Modi, KTR said that PM Modi should spend more time with the common man before making any comment and should lessen his foreign trips.

Nov 27, 2018 4:58 PM

KCR said he will transform Nizamabad into London but look at the conditions here. The region lacks development. He should better live in London for 5 year to see how that city is, says PM Modi ## KCR said he will transform Nizamabad into London but look at the conditions here. The region lacks development. He should better live in London for 5 year to see how that city is, says PM Modi

Nov 27, 2018 4:39 PM

Vote bank politics has harmed development like "termites," says PM Modi##Vote bank politics has harmed development like "termites," says PM Modi

Reaffirming the BJP's commitment to inclusive growth, Modi, addressing his first election rally in the state, said vote bank politics has harmed development like "termites". "The chief minister of Telangana and his family thinks they can get away with doing no work like the Congress.... They have adopted the style of the Congress which ruled for 50-52 years without doing anything. But that cannot happen now," he told an election rally in Nizamabad.

Nov 27, 2018 4:00 PM

PM Modi addresses BJP rally in Mahabubnagar: Here are the main highlights from his speech##PM Modi addresses BJP rally in Mahabubnagar: Here are the main highlights from his speech

PM Modi addresses BJP rally in Mahabubnagar: Here are the main highlights from his speech##PM Modi addresses BJP rally in Mahabubnagar: Here are the main highlights from his speech:

-TRS is a xerox copy of the Congress. There is no difference between both the parties. Both the parties back dynastic politics, casteism, vote-bank politics.

- Look how Congress divided Andhra Pradesh. Both the states are suffering till date. When Atal Ji divided Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, six states were formed and all of them are rapidly progressing.

-Congress' seventy years of misrule at Centre and TRS' five years of mis-governance in the state are responsible for the distress farmers are facing.

Nov 27, 2018 3:17 PM

Rahul Gandhi, TDP's Chandrababu Naidu to campaign in Telangana on Wednesday, Thursday##Rahul Gandhi, TDP's Chandrababu Naidu to campaign in Telangana on Wednesday, Thursday

Nov 27, 2018 3:15 PM

Yogi Adityanath in Rajasthan: Congress indulging in divisive politics##Yogi Adityanath in Rajasthan: Congress indulging in divisive politics

The Uttar Pradesh CM said the Congress is only indulging in divisive politics. “On one side there is BJP which works for the development and on the other hand, there is Congress which has come to you with its divisive politics,” Yogi Adityanath said in Tijara, Alwar on Tuesday.

Nov 27, 2018 2:47 PM

“Family-ruled” TRS and Congress playing "friendly match" in Telangana: Modi##“Family-ruled” TRS and Congress playing "friendly match" in Telangana: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the TRS and Congress of perpetuating family rule and said the two parties were playing a "friendly match" in the Telangana elections.

Reaffirming the BJP's commitment to inclusive growth, Modi, addressing his first election rally in the state, said vote bank politics has harmed development like "termites".

"The chief minister of Telangana and his family thinks they can get away with doing no work like the Congress....They have adopted the style of the Congress which ruled for 50-52 years without doing anything. But that cannot happen now," he told an election rally in Nizamabad.

"TRS and Congress are family-ruled parties playing a friendly match in Telangana polls," he said.

Accusing the TRS government led by K Chandrasekhar Rao of not keeping its promises, Modi said the chief minister had once said he would transform Nizamabad into a smart city like London but the place was still grappling with shortage of water, electricity and proper roads.

He said Rao did not join Ayushman Bharat scheme under which the Centre would bear medical expenses of the poor to the extent of Rs five lakh a year because of his feeling of insecurity.

"This chief minister feels so insecure...he trusts astrologers, does puja, ties nimbu-mirchi (to ward off evil). So when we introduced Ayushman Bharat Yojana, he decided not to join it. He feared people will reject him if Modicare comes into force. He did injustice to the poor people of the state," Modi said.

Amid reports that the Congress was preparing a manifesto that would envisage separate schools and hospitals for Muslims, Modi said the only Mantra that the BJP followed was "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" and was against vote bank politics.

"BJP has just just one Mantra- Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. We believe in inclusive growth. Vote bank politics has damaged development like termite," he said.

Development, he said, was a casualty wherever vote bank politics and politics of casteism, communalism and nepotism have flourished.

He said those who believe in development, building new India and new Telangana trust BJP most. (PTI)

Nov 27, 2018 2:25 PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses BJP election rally in Nizamabad##Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses BJP election rally in Nizamabad

Nov 27, 2018 1:44 PM

Vanteru Pratap Reddy attempts immolation over search at house, bid foiled##Vanteru Pratap Reddy attempts immolation over search at house, bid foiled

Congress candidate for Gajwel assembly constituency, Vanteru Pratap Reddy allegedly made a futile self-immolation bid after a search was conducted at his house in Kompally following a complaint that cash meant for distribution to voters was hidden there, police said on Tuesday. A flying squad comprising election officials reached Reddy's house on late Monday night along with police, but he and his supporters prevented them from discharging their duty leading to some tense moments. During the search, Reddy immediately doused himself with petrol and tried to set himself on fire, but the police thwarted the bid, they said.

"Reddy along with his supporters misbehaved with the officials on duty and also with police," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Balanagar Zone) P. V. Padmaja told PTI adding nothing was found during the search. The official said a case of attempted suicide, obstructing public servant in the discharge of duty and other charges under relevant IPC sections were registered against Reddy and his supporters. On Sunday evening, Reddy had held a sit-in protest at the office of the Election Returning Officer in Gajwel, the constituency represented by caretaker chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, even as police evicted him. He had alleged that his phones were being tapped and that his supporters were being harassed. Telangana assembly elections are scheduled to be held on December 7.

Nov 27, 2018 1:21 PM

'Grand alliance' releases common agenda for governance##'Grand alliance' releases common agenda for governance

The opposition Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), who formed a "grand alliance" for the December 7 assembly polls in Telangana, Monday released a common agenda for governance. The "grand alliance" would be known as the "people's front", the parties said. The agenda was released by Congress president in Telangana N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, TDP's state unit president L. Ramana, TJS president M. Kodandaram and CPI's incharge state secretary Palla Venkat Reddy. The "agenda of aspirations of the "martyrs"' (those who sacrificed their life for separate Telangana) would form the political and ideological basis for the 'people's front' before the polls and coalition government post elections, the agenda said.

The agenda said administrative changes would be made to end the "dictatorial" and "corrupt" rule of TRS. It said a judicial inquiry would be conducted into the design of major contracts and the award of contracts during the last four years.

For the farm sector, the alliance promised Rs two lakh loan waiver at one go and setting up a Rs 10,000 crore fund for price stabilisation and market intervention. Uttam Kumar Reddy hoped that the 'people's front' would form the government after the elections. He said that a committee would be formed, with Kodandaram as its chairman with Cabinet rank, for the implementation of the agenda.

Those who fought for a separate Telangana would get recognition and also "partnership" in government schemes, the agenda said. Among others, the agenda said one lakh jobs would be filled in the first year after coming to power.

The agenda promised implementation of reports of the Sachar Commitee and Sudhir Committee on welfare of minorities. It also said that libraries showcasing Telangana literature and records of photos, audio and video of separate Telangana agitation would be set up. (PTI)

Nov 27, 2018 12:35 PM

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