Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh has assured the Gujarat voters that there would be adequate presence of the security forces to ensure free and fair polls tomorrow.
In a subtle caution to politicians trying to create mischief to gain political mileage, Lyngdoh's warning is "diplomatic missions and the media are watching everything".
Without making mention of any political group, Lyngdoh made it clear that the deployment of security forces was enought to instill the sense of security among people.
Lyngdoh's assurance is seen as a message to the state bureaucracy that every attempt be made to dispell fear among voters of the areas which were hit by communal violence in the state.
However, the CEC made it clear that voters would be required to give proof of identity before exercising their right to vote.
On the patter on Jammu and Kashmir, each polling booth would have one outsider and one state employee to oversee the polling.
The EC's decision is aimed at ensuring neutralising in the management of polls. Lyngdoh said that the voting would be done through electronic voting machines (EVMs) all over the state.
Talking to newspersons, he asserted that adequate security arrangements had been made for conduct of free and fair polls in gujarat tomorrow and said that 17 foreign diplomats and 20 special observers would witness the polling at 181 assembly constituencies.
Referring to the poll arrangements, he said that 36657 polling stations had been set up across the state to enable 3.32 crores eligible voters to exercise their franchise.
The election commission took a "lot of pains" on special revision of electoral rolls, particularly to include those who had migrated following communal riots early this year, lyngdoh said, adding 1.76 lakh such voters had been located and included in the rolls.
For those who remained untraceable, he said special police stations had been set up at three district collectorates in patan, panchmahal and anand districts to allow them to cast their votes there or exercise their franchise at their original place of habitation.
