Poll violence, naxal threat dominate agenda at Collectors' meet

By W.Chandrakanth

HYDERABAD, JUNE 28. The issue of poll violence dominated the discussions at the Collectors' meet organised by the State Election Commission here on Thursday. The People's War Group factor in Telangana and the faction violence in Rayalaseema were of concern to the authorities.

Mr. H.J.Dora, Director General of Police, conceded the fact that the PWG factor was causing concern to the administration. This was confirmed by some of the Collectors who, later speaking to The Hindu, said that there were instances of activists of some political parties threatening followers of other political parties.

There were some instances of flag posts of the ruling TDP and other parties being uprooted or flags removed in some villages.

Mr.Dora assured the administrators of enough forces. He said at least 1.1 lakh security personnel would be deployed. Neighbouring States had been requested to send their standby forces to help conduct the panchayat elections smoothly, he said. However, such personnel would be deployed only in the districts bordering the other States and the local forces would be moved into the other districts.

He urged the Collectors to ensure free and fair elections and prevent interference by political parties in the polling process with the support of outlawed agencies. Pointing out that voters were interested in taking part in the democratic process, he said earlier polls indicated that 65 per cent to 70 per cent people in areas affected by extremism exercised their franchise.

It was a positive sign that the PWG decided to support any party working for separate statehood for Telangana as it also meant that they welcomed the democratic process to some extent unlike in the past when they preferred to give a boycott call. The situation could be dicey as fanning out of forces to the interior polling stations at the MPTC and ZPTC levels was no easy task.

The Government may even seek deployment of senior cadets of the NCC and the officials of the Forest Department, the DGP assured them.

The Collectors of Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram preferred early completion of polling in tribal and interior areas as hamlets having thin population posed a problem to the officials. If it could end by 4 p.m. it would be better as the polling officials could then trek a few kilometers to reach the main roads to seek transport back to the safety of nearest towns or mandal headquarters.

Their plea is under consideration. The Collectors of Rayalaseema and West Godavari suggested that mandal be considered as unit for nominating agents and it was conceded. Outsiders would not be allowed to enter the mandals. Mobile parties would be deployed by the district police to check violence, the meeting was told.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Telengana issue leading to new political
           alignments?
Next     : CDR organising brain clinics