Lok Sabha elections 2024: Foreign delegates to observe Alibaug polls

A seven member team from election management bodies from Sri Lanka Bangladesh Zimbabwe Kazakhstan will arrive at Alibaug Raigad today on a twoday official visit to witness the election and preparations related to it which will also include the mock and actual polling at Raigad Raigad will go to polls on Tuesday May 7Highly placed officials from the state Election Commission informed midday that delegates from 23 countries 75 delegates who have come to India will be visiting polls in six states in small groups and seven of them will be visiting Raigad This is the first time that such a large number of delegates is visiting the country and Raigad which has geared up to host the special guests Arrangements have been made by booking lsquoluxury suitesrsquo and lsquodeluxersquo hotel roomsldquoThese dignitaries are at the level of senior election commissioners and deputy election commissioners from their respective countries and will be here to understand the Indian election system India is one of the largest democracies in the world and the preparedness to ensure that a free and fair election is conductedrdquo explained a senior official attached to the district administration Raigad Lok Sabha constituencyOn May 7 in the third phase polling will be held for eleven Lok Sabha seats In the earlier two phases voting was held for 13 Lok Sabha seats Interestingly the Raigad parliamentary constituency has been shortlisted for the dignitariesrsquo visit When asked the reason for selecting Raigad over other constituencies a senior election official from the state Election Commission said ldquoIt may be due to the proximity of the place from Mumbai and accessibility through faster and easier mode of transport The purpose of the visit is to observe the entire election process hererdquoWelcoming the delegatesAccording to highly placed sources in the district administration the delegates would arrive at Mandwa jetty today morning in speed boats from Mumbai and would be welcomed in the traditional way with ldquoarti and phetardquo A police band will also be deployed to welcome the guestsldquoThe delegates would then be taken to JSM college Alibaug from where the polling parties would be dispatched to various polling stations 2185 polling stations with poll equipment Around 330 pm the delegates would be meeting District Collector Kisam Jawale and his team who will conduct an orientation meeting and presentation and would also appraise the delegates about the EVMs and their featuresrsquordquoDay of pollsAt 600 am the delegates would be taken for a display of mock polling an hour before the actual polling begins from 7 am to 6 pm which will be done at seven different places in AlibaugAround 830 am they would be taken to a few polling booths to observe the actual poll happenings Later in the evening post the polling the delegates would also be shown how the EVMs are safely returned and the entire storage procedures would be explainedWhen asked if the administration arranged for translators the official replied in negative stating ldquoUsually the respective countriesrsquo consulates make the required arrangement for translators who accompany the delegates and the local administration has no role in thisrdquoAsked if delegates would be allowed to videograph the official said ldquoThe protocols will be the same for all They wonrsquot be allowed to shoot anything inside the polling station on the day of election and if required they may shoot the outside of polling stationsrdquoRegarding their security arrangements the officer said ldquoA deputy superintendent rank official has been appointed who will be in charge of the delegatesrsquo security during their twoday stay They will return back on May 8rdquoSightseeinghellipAmidst their tight schedule the district administration has also shortlisted two places of visit in case the delegates desire either the Raigad Fort or Kolaba Fort Officials also decided to hand over a goody bag containing Alphonso mangoes but this is pending approval from the higher authoritiesMeanwhile district Superintendent of Police Somnath Gharge said that illegal liquor worth R15 lakh has been seized and 365 cases have been registered while 1462 licensed weapons have been collected and preventive action has been taken against persons with a criminal backgroundManpowerMaterials and equipment required for this election have been provided at 2185 polling stations There are 8740 polling stationlevel staff and 9771 trained voter staff and officers including reserve officer staff available for smooth elections Of these 3517 are women and 47 are disabled officers As many as 187 police officers 2060 police 1363 home guards 243 CRPF and 23 Rapid Action Force platoons have been deployedCode of Conduct violationsBetween March 16 and May 3 the district received 57 complaints of violation of the Model Code of Conduct on the C Vigil app out of which 57 complaints have been disposed of after due process Of the 1568 complaints received on the NGSP portal 1540 have been disposed of Additionally five written complaints were received which were resolved as per rulesRestrictionsThere is a silence period in the Raigad parliamentary constituency 48 hours before the end of voting Campaigning cannot be done 48 hours in advance The Election Commission has also directed that persons who are not residents of the constituency cannot stay in this area for political campaigningDignitaries in RaigadBangladeshMd Moniruzzaman Talukder joint secretary admin and finance and G M Shahatab Uddin director admin Bangladesh Election CommissionKazakhstanNurlan Abdirov chairman with spouse Aibek Zheken head of the CEC chairmanrsquos secretariat Central Election Commission Republic of KazakhstanSri LankaSilja Hilkka Paasilinna country directorZimbabweJustice Priscilla Chigumba chairperson and Simbarashe Tongayi deputy chief election officer admin Zimbabwe Electoral Commission