Election Commission strives to negate 'urban voter apathy' in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena said the Election Commission is striving to increase the polling percentage in about 20 urban Assembly constituencies where it is lower than the national average of 68 percent.
Visakhapatnam, Nellore, Kurnool town, Rajamahendravaram, Vijayawada and others are some of the constituencies 'exhibiting urban apathy' towards exercising franchise.
«Our (overall) per cent of polling is on the higher side at 79 per cent, but still there are certain urban areas where it is below the national average. We are now trying to increase the percentage in these places so that our overall voting percentage also goes up. We appeal to the people to vote,» said Meena in a PTI interview.
He noted that the poll body has done all the planning needed to conduct the elections, such as keeping the required number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) ready and also completing first level check.
For manning 46,000 polling stations in the southern state's simultaneous Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha polls on May 13, Meena said the Commission took the list of employees, considering it needs 3.3 lakh employees just for the poll duty. According to the CEO, each polling station requires six polling officers, including the presiding officer.
There is a «little gap in the requirement» he said and exuded confidence that it can be covered by rationalisation. On the preliminary preparation plan for deployment of forces in all the polling stations, the official said it has been
