180,000 security personnel deployed, state borders sealed ahead of MP polls

Chief Electoral Officer, Madhya Pradesh, VL Kantha Rao on Sunday informed that 1,80,000 security personnel including officers of state police, Central para-military forces and home guards will be deployed in the state of Madhya Pradesh ahead of assembly elections due for November 28.

Sharing details of the poll preparedness in the state, Rao while addressing a press conference here said, "In law and order front, 85% of Madhya Pradesh state police personnel have been drafted in election duty and 90% home guard have been involved in election work. If we combine state police, constables and home guards about 80, 000 security personnel from states are being deployed for election duty. Apart from these one lakh more security personnel including 650 companies of Central para-military forces will be on election duty in the state."

He also informed that inter-state checkpoints of the state have been sealed and campaign vehicles have been prohibited from entering the state.

He further said, "As of now around 72 hours are left for polling exercise to culminate in the state. Warehouse, distillery, brewery and bottling plants in the state have been forbidden to bring out any supplies of liquor. From other states, no supply of liquor will be allowed to come in the boundaries of the state. From 5 PM onwards on 25th November, 456 inter-state check-points have been sealed and all political or campaign-related vehicles have been prohibited from entering through these points. Our 1770 teams of flying squads and surveillance personnel have been made operational in the state for next 72 hours."

He also asserted that in terms of the vehicular moment, the poll body had prohibited the formation of a convoy of more than 10 vehicles. The state will go to polls on November 28 to elect its 230 members of legislative assembly. The results will be declared on December 11.