Visakhapatnam: 10,600 staff to be deployed for smooth conduct of elections

Visakhapatnam: District Collector and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) special officer V Vinay Chand said that about 10,600 polling staff are required to conduct the local body polls in a hassle-free manner.

He stressed the need for the officials to strictly implement the model code of conduct. "The total number of voters in GVMC is 17,52,927. Of which, 8,80,481 are men, 8,73,320 women and 126 others form a part of the voters' list," the District Collector said, adding that GVMC elections will be conducted including Narsiptanam and Elamanchili municipalities.

Speaking to the media here on Tuesday, he said the polling staff will not be aware of their election duties until the day before the polls. He stated that the training session was completed for ROs and AROs but the polling staff is yet to be trained.

Vinay Chand said vehicles will be hired for the election duties. He called for collective cooperation for the smooth conduct of the elections sans any untoward incident.

City Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar Meena said he had already planned for the elections. Action will be taken against those who violate the electoral code, he stated.

GVMC in-charge Commissioner and VMRDA Commissioner P Koteswara Rao, Joint Collectors M Venugopal Reddy and L Siva Shankar, GVMC Additional Commissioner Thameem Ansaria, DCP (Zone I) S Ranga Reddy, District Revenue Officer M Sridevi and others participated.