The state election commission has issued a directive to returning officers and district magistrates to ensure that not more than two to three booths are set up at a single polling centre for the upcoming civic elections.

“The directive aims to minimise the chances of overcrowding at the polling centres,” said Ahibhushan Pandey, joint election commissioner, state election commission.

Pandey said: “Total 6,305 booths will be set up across the state as of now, which are subject to 5 per cent variation.”

According to sources, water tankers, mobile toilets and ambulances would be available near the polling booths. In the 2002 civic polls, 6,018 polling booths were set up. In 2007 polls, 6,518 booths were set up.

The state election commission on Thursday had notified the postponement of polling date from May 16 to May 17. The commission also postponed the last date of withdrawal of nominations from April 29 to May 2.

“According to the civic poll norms, at least 15 days are required as a gap between the last date of withdrawal of names and the date of polling to ensure candidates get enough time for campaigning. However, there are notified state holidays on April 30 and May 1. Hence, the commission has postponed the polling date from May 16 to May 17 and counting would be done on May 19,” said a senior state election commission officer.

He added: “Similarly, the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations has also been postponed from April 29 to May 2. The electoral symbol would be distributed on the same day after 3pm, after the final list of candidates is published.”

The commission is yet to finalise the first list of candidates after the scrutiny of nominations, which was completed on Thursday.

“It is because of the strict measures taken during the filing of nominations that not many of them are being rejected. We have also sent a letter to all the districts to send the final figures with regard to valid nominations but reply from many districts is awaited,” said another state election commission official.

Records available with the state election commission show that 12,474 people filed their nominations across the state from April 16 to 24 for contesting in the upcoming civic polls. As many as 577 people have criminal antecedents.