DARJEELING, April 13 (AGENCIES): The Election Commission of India (EC), organising the largest democratic exercise in the world, is literary walking that extra mile to ensure democracy for all. EC officials will endure a gruelling 11-kilometre long trek to reach the remote booth of Srikhola in the mountainous northern part of West Bengal’s Darjeeling district.
At a height of 2,800 metres above sea level (msl), Srikhola houses the highest polling booth in the state. The village is nearly 100 kms south west of the Darjeeling town.
As per the Representation Of The People Act, 1951, no voter should cover more a distance of more than two-kilometres from his or her house to vote. Hence, to ensure that the 841 voters of Srikhola have the opportunity to vote along with 814 million Indians, the EC is all set to make the trek.
“The first 60 kms are relatively easy with motor-able roads, the next 29 kms on two-wheelers and for the remaining distance, officials will have to trek,” Pushpak Roy, EC officer-in-charge in Darjeeling said.
The officials will not only be carrying the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and electoral charts, but also equipment and supplies such as generators, drinking water and food, mobile chargers, candles, lanterns and bedding. There is no electricity or housing in the area and so officials will have to carry the day-to-day necessities, and also ensure that they report back to the district headquarters on time.
The constituency will go to polls on April 17, and poll officials will start out for the venue as early as April 15 to ensure that all the voters of the constituency vote on the same day as per schedule.
About five kms from Srikhola stands another remote booth, Daragaon, at a height of 2,600 msl. A separate team of EC officials will also reach there for its 875 voters, including 416 women.
Officials who conducted earlier polling in these areas thank the introduction of the EVM’s as carrying ballot boxes and papers were a nightmare, said an official. “Now it is much easier, as the load has reduced. Earlier, we also had to carry ballot box, papers and water proofing materials to cover the boxes as weather in those mountainous regions are so unpredictable that it can rain anytime ruining the ballots cast,” said an EC district official.
However, candidates of any of the political parties have not bothered to reach out to the voters, and at best had sent emissaries to campaign on their behalf. When questioned by Gulf News, most of the candidates expressed their surprise on the very existence of these booths, except for GJM, who claimed to have their party office there.
