According to the state branch of the ECI, extra police personnel will be deployed at sensitive polling stations.(Representational image)

Mumbai: The voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) system will be used in the Palghar and Bhandara–Gondia Lok Sabha byelection in Maharashtra for the first time. Earlier in 2014, the VVPAT system was used in 13 Assembly constituencies of the state.

There are 2,097 polling stations in Palghar and 2,149 polling stations in Bhandara-Gondia. The state branch of the Election Commission of India (ECI) has identified 14 critical polling stations in Palghar, and 113 critical polling stations and 71 naxalite-affected polling stations in Bhandara-Gondia. According to the state branch of the ECI, extra police personnel will be deployed at sensitive polling stations.

The Palghar Lok Sabha constituency has six Assembly constituencies, of which, Dahanu has 327 polling stations; Vekramgrth 338; Palghar 318; Boisar 338; Nalasopara 449; and Vasai 327 polling stations. Similarly, the Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha constituency has six Assembly constituencies, of which, Tumsar has 356 polling stations; Bhandara 462; Sakoli 392; Arjuni Morgaon 305; Tirora 289; and Gondia 345 polling stations.  

According to an official of the state branch of ECI, “Critical polling stations have been identified as: one in Dahanu, six in Boisar, and seven in Nalasopara of Palghar LS constituency; and two in Tumsar, 20 in Bhandara, 13 in Sakoli, 15 in Arjuni Morgaon, and 63 in Gondia of Bhandara-Gondia LS constituency. Naxalie-affected polling stations have been identified as 12 in Sakoli, and 59 in Arjuni Morgaon.”  

Around 25,476 personnel will be deployed at 4,246 polling stations. 1,760,141 voters will cast their votes in Bhandara-Gondia while 17,31,077 voters will exercise their voting rights in Palghar.