195 Platoons Police Force Deployed For Urban Polls In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The state government has made elaborate security arrangements for the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections scheduled in Odisha on March 24 (Thursday).

Addressing mediapersons, State Election Commissioner Aditya Prasad Padhi said around 22,000 polling personnel have been engaged for the election and all of them have reached their designated booths.

Informing about the security measures, Padhi said 195 platoons of police force, including OSAP, IR Battalion and Special Security Battalion, have been deployed. Each booth will be guarded by a constable, havildar or armed police, he added.

While 30 platoons are for areas under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, 20 for urban elections in areas under Cuttack Municipal Corporation and 10 for Berhampur Municipal Corporation.

Apart from the police at booths, 300 mobile parties will also be on duty, he added. For the three Municipal Corporations, 109 mobile teams have been sanctioned.

Calling upon the people to turn out in large numbers to exercise their franchise, Padhi said the polling will be held from 8 am to 5 pm. Informing about the voting process, he said as Mayor and Chairperson election will be held directly, two EVMs will be used in separate compartments at each booth. One for Councillor/Corporator and the other for Chairperson/Mayor, added Padhi.

Counting of votes will commence from 8 am on March 26.