Tight security for polling of Khadakwasla assembly constituency

The district collectorate has made elaborate security arrangement for the polling of Khadakwasla assembly constituency on Thursday. Returning officer Avinash Hathgal told the media in the city on Tuesday.

The district collectorate for the first time has put up eight check posts in the assembly constituency.

"These check posts will be manned by the police and will check the possible transaction of money and liquor on the eve of the polling day," said Hathgal. Other than the check posts, eight flying squads will be employed to check similar practices.

The death of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) MLA Ramesh Wanjale had brought about the by-polls, voting for which will be held on Thursday. Wanjale's widow, Harshada, will be contesting the by-polls as a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate, against Bhimrao Tapkir of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena-RPI alliance.

According to Hathgal, of the 346 polling booths in the assembly constituency, 224 are in the urban area, while 122 are in the rural area. In the urban area, for other than the normal police staff from the Pune police commissionerate, three platoons of state reserved police force (SRPF) will be on bandobast duty on the poll day. In the rural area, the superintendent of police, and other officers, 454 constables would be on bandobast duty on Thursday.

"A total of 2,152 staff from the various departments of the district collector would be on election duty," he said. A total of 414 electronic voting machines would be used.