Stepping up surveillance in border areas, the Election Commission has sought inter-State cooperation from Income Tax, Excise and police authorities in Goa, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
“We have held several rounds of meetings with officials from neighbouring States. They have set up check-posts to prevent flow of cash, liquor and other materials from their States to Karnataka. While officials from Kerala seized ₹1.75 crore cash, those from Goa seized hundreds of litres of liquor that was being transported to Karnataka recently,” said Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar.
He told presspersons here that officials from 18 border districts in Karnataka were coordinating with officials in the adjoining districts of neighbouring States to ensure strict vigil.
Of the total 58,008 polling stations, including 1,312 auxiliary booths, 600 pink (all-woman) polling stations are being set up. With 50 such polling booths, Belagavi has the highest followed by Bidar and Chickballapur at 30 each. Koppal has the lowest with five, he said.
For the first time, ethnic polling booths are being set up in 28 constituencies that are home to primitive tribes. This is to suit the environment and create an inclusive atmosphere for the tribal communities, he said.
To ensure that differently abled persons are also included in the polling process, the commission will use the services of 112 such people in the polling booths. While 13 booths will be totally manned by persons with disability, 56 booths will have one or two such personnel.