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Why is the bypoll being held?
Because Trinamul Congress MLA Shikha Mitra resigned and quit the party
Who are in the fray?
Nayana Bandyopadhyay (Trinamul Congress), Ritesh Tiwari (BJP), Santosh Pathak (Congress) and Faiyyaz Ahmed Khan (CPM)
Polling begins at: 7am
Polling ends at: 6pm, but anyone who queues up before that will be allowed to vote beyond the deadline
What if someone reaches a booth at 6.01pm?
Unless a special consideration is made for the elderly, infirm or disabled by the presiding officer, nobody will be allowed to join the queue after 6pm
What should a voter carry to a booth?
Voter ID. If you don’t have one, carry one of the following:
1. Passport
2. Driving licence
3. PAN card
4. Service identity card for employees of offices of state/central government, public sector undertakings, local bodies or public limited companies
5. Passbook with photograph issued by public sector bank/post office
6. SC/ST/OBC certificate
7. Pension documents with photograph
8. Freedom fighter’s card
9. Arms licence
10. Certificate of physical disability
11. Health insurance scheme smart card issued by the Union labour ministry
12. Property documents such as a patta or a registered deed, with photograph
13. Job card issued under the Centre’s rural employment guarantee scheme
(All documents from 4 to 13 should have been issued on or before 30.6.2014)
Can one vote without a voter slip?
Yes. All you need to carry is one of the 14 documents mentioned. It isn’t mandatory to carry a voter slip even if you have one
What are the things a voter is barred from carrying to a booth?
Any object that can be used as a weapon, such as a cricket bat or a penknife
A flag or any party symbol
A large amount of cash, the purpose or the source of which can’t be explained
What about a mobile phone?
It must be switched off or in silent mode; can’t be used within 100 metres of a booth
Who to approach if a voter has a query?
The presiding officer
Who to call to report a problem?
Election Commission: 1950
Calcutta police: 100
Lalbazar Control room: 22143230 / 22141310
Traffic control room: 22143644
What other complaints can a voter lodge?
When the queue isn’t moving at a reasonable pace
When someone, either an individual or a group, tries to influence, threaten or intimidate you or the other voters
Will there be transport on the roads?
Transport will be normal, though there will be restrictions on bike-borne youths moving in groups
Is it safe to move around in the city when polling is underway?
Yes, but make sure you carry an identity card and don’t be taken aback if a police officer questions you
Will New Market be open?
Restrictions are applicable to shops within a 200-metre radius of a booth. Most traders in the New Market belt have decided to open their shops in the second half of the day
Will there be any traffic restriction?
Vehicles may be diverted from any crossing or road, if required
No goods vehicles will be allowed through Park Street, JL Nehru Road, Esplanade Row (east), Bentinck Street, BB Ganguly Street, Lalbazar Street, CR Avenue, Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Lenin Sarani, SN Banerjee Road, Taltala Avenue, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Free School Street, AJC Bose Road, RR Avenue, Brabourne Road and India Exchange Place between 5am and 10pm
Is Saturday a dry day?
Only in the constituency, and till 6pm
What is the weather forecast?
A mix of cloudy and sunny skies with the Celsius peaking at around 33 degrees in the afternoon. When the sun is out, it will be sultry because the moisture content of the air is high. There are no strong weather systems in the vicinity of Calcutta; so heavy rain is ruled out. A light shower or two is possible
P.S. Basirhat is the other seat going to the polls on Saturday
