Andhra Pradesh CEO takes stock of poll arrangements 72 hours before voting

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On Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena took stock of the arrangements made for the much-awaited simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections 72 hours before the polling day in the state on May 13. In a PTI report, the CEO called on the officials from across various departments and instructed them to ensure the elections are held in a "peaceful, fair, and exemplary" manner.

"The final moment has arrived." Meena said in a press release, further adding, "The next three days are crucial, and all districts' election machinery must be vigilant to avert any untoward incident or voter-influencing tactics." He meticulously directed officials to ensure that every voter in the state is given a chance to exercise their franchise and see to it that there is no hurdle for voters streaming in from neighbouring states.

He instructed the district collectors and superintendents of police to keep an eye out and make sure that the government employees perform the duties entrusted to them. The CEO directed them to monitor sensitive polling stations from the command control centres and develop strengthened communication with the shadowy and unmonitored areas.

As the CEO, Meena is accountable to authorities in case of any malpractices detected during this period. Hence, he is enthusiastically partaking in the execution of just and smooth polling practices. He even directed the officials to arrange transport for residents of far-flung areas such as the tribal districts. The CEO informed PTI that helicopters have also been arranged for selected places to bring in the voters to the polling booths.

Meena even mandated that voter slips be distributed on time to every voter and that a GPS be used to track the passage of vans with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He stated that the Dry Days will commence on May 11 at 6 p.m. On May 13, concurrent elections will take place for both, the southern state's 175 Assembly seats and the 25 Lok Sabha seats. The results will be made public on June 4.

(With Inputs from PTI)