Sashastra Seema Bal jawans on a flag march at Lalpur in Ranchi on Monday. Picture by Manik Bose

Ranchi/Jamshedpur, Nov. 23: Armed with mosquito repellents, antiseptic liquid, ORS powder, tablets, bandage et al — and, of course, polling paraphernalia — 1,672 officials, divided into 355 teams, today set out for Kanke constituency, where Assembly elections are scheduled on November 25.

Polling parties for the high-profile Ranchi, Hatia, Jamshedpur East and West and Jugsalai seats will be dispatched tomorrow.

A Maoist poll boycott notwithstanding, fear is perhaps the last thing on the mind of polling officials. While most seats in the first phase are safe, promised air surveillance in East Singhbhum has kept their morale from sagging.

“Kanke is a safe constituency. Extremist presence is not very strong in the area, barring some pockets of Pithoria and Budmu. So, we are not worried,” said a government teacher, boarding one of the 48 buses bound for 8,176 booths in the Kanke Assembly segment.

A forest department official, going on poll duty for the third time, was more bullish. “Election is like a picnic,” he grinned. “We get the opportunity to enjoy a jungle safari (read journey through Maoist bastions) and have money to spend on food and drink,” he said, adding that every presiding officer was entitled to a fee of Rs 1,500 and polling official Rs 1,200.

District transport officer Ashok Kumar Banka said polling officials reached Birsa Munda Stadium at 9am. After a brief instruction session, they were taken to Morabadi grounds from where they boarded buses to various destinations including Pithoria and Budmu.

Election officer of Ranchi and its deputy commissioner K.K. Soan said EVMs had not been provided for security reasons. “They will be given on polling day by 56 patrolling magistrates, who will collect the EVMs again in the evening.”

Soan said that officials on poll duty had been asked to be in touch with the control room to ensure free and fair election. “We have given them all necessary numbers. The idea is to ensure zero communication gap,” he added.

East Singhbhum deputy commissioner-cum-district election officer R.K. Agarwal said polling parties for Jugsalai had been constituted. Those for Jamshedpur (East) and Jamshedpur (West) will be done tomorrow morning. The teams will be dispatched in the evening.

Superintendent of police Naveen Kumar Singh said a chopper would monitor the entire polling process in East Singhbhum. “Apart from surveillance, it will be used for airdrop, airlift and, if required, evacuation.” He added that adequate security personnel had reached and booth-wise deployment would begin soon.