LokSabha 2019: Polling booths in remote areas to get satellite phones: EC

Pune: To ensure free and fair elections even at the remotest polling booths having no mobile connectivity, the Election Commission will be providing satellite phones for hourly counting updates.
 
In Shirur Lok Sabha constituency, Sena candidate Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil is contesting against popular Marathi actor Dr Amol Kolhe. In this constituency there are 39 polling booths lacking mobile connectivity. Like all other booths having connectivity challenges, these 39 booths will be equipped with satellite phones on the day of polling, said a top Election Commission official. 

Baramati and Shirur constituencies in Pune district will go for polls on April 23 and 29 respectively. There are total 7,903 polling booths in Pune district out of which 2,296 are in Shirur constituency and 2,372 in Baramati constituency.

As per the District Magistrate’s office, there are 39 polling booths out of  total 2,296 polling booths in Shirur parliamentary constituency which are located in remote areas of Khed, Ambegaon and Khed Alandi where there is no mobile network. There are 14 polling booths where there are less than 300 voters which are three in Junnar, six in Ambegaon, three in Khed Alandi and two in Shirur.

“Each polling booth is alloted five officers comprising one presiding officer, three polling officers and one peon. As far as these remote polling stations are concerned, there is a provision of satellite and wireless phones,” he said. In Baramati constituency, there are 24 polling stations in Bhor Assembly segment, which are in remote areas with no mobile network and four in Khadakwasla assembly segment without mobile range. There are 82 polling stations in Bhor in talukas like Velha, Mulshi and Bhor which have less than 300 voters. As per the officials, provision of wireless phones will be done for polling stations which have no mobile range in remote areas of Baramati constituency.