Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal, who held a video- conference with the Superintendents of Police and Returning Officers of 12 districts, told reporters that 139 companies will be sought from the Centre for the bypolls.
Each company comprises 130 personnel and they will be deployed in sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling stations, he said, adding that 134 check-posts would be set up to keep a watch on movement of illegal money and inducements like liquor.
The district officials told the CEO that flying squads, static surveillance teams have been formed for strict implementation of the model code of conduct.
The CEO said that Rs 1,29,90,000 and 15,937 litres of illicit liquor have been seized during police checks and 294 people have been arrested since the model code of conduct came into force.
The bypolls are necessitated in 16 of the 18 Assembly seats following disqualification of as many sitting Congress MLAs by the Speaker for switching loyalty to Kadap MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, while another MLA quit in support of Jagan.
Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi quit as MLA following his election to Rajya Sabha which necessitated the bypoll. The polling will be held on June 12. PTI SJR NSK RAI