‘Fully prepared to hold transparent polls’

District Collector K Madhavilatha has made it clear that the government machinery has fully prepared to conduct elections transparently and all required arrangements are being made.
The Collector inaugurated the media point in the Collectorate on Tuesday. Later, addressing a press conference, flanked by SP P Jagadish, she said that all arrangements were being made to conduct elections transparently and impartially without place for violence.
She said that the nomination process begins on April 18 and ends on April 25. All arrangements have been made to accept nominations from the candidates. However, nominations will not be accepted on April 21 as the day is being Sunday. The nomination papers will be accepted from 11 am to 3 pm.
She said that to file nominations, 3 vehicles would be allowed up to 100 meters from the RO’s office, and only four other people would be allowed inside the RO’s chamber along with the person filing the nomination.
Collector Madhavilatha said that 41 complaints have been received on Modal Code of Conduct violations of which 39 complaints have been resolved and two were under consideration. As many as 312 complaints were received through the Central government Seva Portal. As many as 9,644 polling staff are available in the district, she added. The Collector said that 422 Micro Observers, 16 Nodal Officers, 63 Flying Squad Teams in 3 shifts, 24 Video Survival Teams, 23 Model Code of Conduct Teams, Static Surveillance Teams 63, Video Viewing Teams 26, Accounting Teams 16, and the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee are monitoring the election process through the 24 x 7 integrated command control room.
SP Jagadish said that so far cases have been registered against 6,005 people. There are 236 licensed weapons in the district of which 177 have been deposited with the police.  The SP stated that 230 critical village and ward polling stations were identified and police flag marches have been conducted at the villages since March 1, adding that four companies of CSF have been conducting duties in the district since March 1.  
He said 8 checkposts were set up at various places and 8 more checkposts are being established. “Since December 25, Rs 5.41 crore worth cash, liquor, drugs and other articles have been seized in the district of which Rs 1.22 crore cash, Rs 2.75 crore worth liquor and drugs worth Rs 29 lakh,” the SP stated. The SP said that 367 problematic polling stations were identified and adequate security is being provided to the polling stations. Joint Collector N Tej Bharat, DRO G Narasimhulu and other officials were present.