140 companies of CRPF sought for Lok Sabhs polls in Haryana

From The TOI TNN | Mar 6, 2014, CHANDIGARH: The Election Commission would take the help of over 70,000 polling personnel and about 1,300 supervisors to conduct peaceful Lok Sabha polls in Haryana, which goes to polls on April 10. The state has about 1.5 crore voters, who would elect 10 MPs. The EC has sought 140 companies of CRPF this time against 54 companies pressed into service during last parliamentary polls in 2009. Election officials did not cite any specific reason for this increase, but mentioned that states always seek more cops than are allotted to conduct polls. Haryana chief electoral officer Shrikant Walgad said that apart from CRPF, personnel of Haryana police and home guards would also be deputed on poll duty. There would be over 16,000 polling stations in the state. An assistant expenditure observer each would be deputed in all the 90 assembly segments in the state and a general observer would be deputed for each parliamentary constituency. "Flying squads would videograph political functions and rallies. The contesting candidates would have to get each and every content certified before posting it on social media and would also have to give expenditure details incurred on posting such content, which will be added to the expenditure prescribed for contesting elections," he said. Walgad said two awareness observers have been appointed for six parliamentary constituencies -- Gurgaon, Faridabad, Rohtak, Sonipat, Karnal and Ambala -- as voting percentage was less in these constituencies in the past elections. There are 16,129 polling stations in the state. Each polling station would either have a micro observer for supervision or webcasting/videography would be carried out at each station, he said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/140-companies-of-CRPF-sought-for-Lok-Sabhs-polls-in-Haryana/articleshow/31507393.cms