Drones to monitor Jubilee Hills bypoll as 407 polling centres gear up for Nov 11 polling, says DEO Karnan

Ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-election on November 11, authorities have ramped up security and logistical arrangements. Drones will monitor 130 locations covering 407 polling stations, while over 1,760 security personnel including paramilitary forces have been deployed.

Hyderabad: District Election Officer RV Karnan said drones would be used in 130 locations, covering 407 polling stations for surveillance during the Jubilee Hills by-election to be held on November 11 (Tuesday), from 7 am and up to the end of the polling until 6 pm. This was to ensure a smooth and secure polling process, said Karnan.

On Sunday, Karnan and Joint CP Tafseer Iqbal jointly addressed the media at GHMC head office on preparations for the polling and counting.

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“The drones will be used to monitor the polling stations and surrounding areas, providing real-time data to the authorities to ensure that the polling should be done in a smoother manner,” Karnan said, adding that voters would be allowed to cast their votes up to 6 pm in the polling stations.

Voters who were inside the premises of polling stations by 6 pm would still be allowed to vote. Tokens would be issued to the voters to ensure that everyone present can cast their votes, up to the last voter, he said.

Karnan said that all arrangements had been made with regard to electronic voting machines (EVMs). With 58 candidates in the fray, EVMs comprising one control unit, four ballot units and one VVPAT were deployed at all 407 polling stations. In case any discrepancies occurred in EVMs, such as malfunctions or power issues, the ECIL technical staff were ready to replace the EVMs and repair the defunct EVMs.

Police had identified 226 critical polling stations in 65 locations and had deployed adequate numbers of police personnel to ensure peaceful voting, Joint CP Tafseer Iqbal said, adding that 230 rowdy sheeters were bound over while 27 cases were registered for Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations.

In addition to drones, police are deploying over 1760 additional security personnel, including paramilitary force and police, at the polling stations to ensure that voters can cast their votes without any fear or intimidation.