Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 07 March 2022
The Panchayat & Municipal Elections, 2022 were held peacefully for 686 constituencies of 70 Gram Panchayats and for 24 Wards of Port Blair Municipal Council in A&N Islands on 6th March 2022.
The overall voter turnout for all Panchayats of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was 70.29%. The voting percentage in Panchayat Elections under South Andaman District stood at 68.99%, North & Middle Andaman District recorded 72.67% votes and Nicobar District recorded 56.72% votes. 49.23% polling was recorded for the election in the wards of Port Blair Municipal Council.
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were used for Port Blair Municipal Council Elections while Elections for PRIs were held through Ballot Papers.
All COVID protocols were ensured throughout the Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands as per the guidelines issued by the Election Commission viz. Monitoring of temperature of the voters, marking for social distancing, providing hand sanitizers by the ASHA and Anganwadi workers at the entry point of all booths was ensured all over the Territory.
In a few polling stations, due to mechanical failure, the EVMs had to be replaced, which was done swiftly in order to minimize the inconvenience to the electors. Foreseeing such situations, engineers from ECIL were stationed at Port Blair.
Considering the geographical and terrain conditions, the DPME specially envisaged and requisitioned the provisions of helicopter services as well as speed boats from Shipping Services. The vessels of Andaman and Nicobar Command was also kept ready as a backup mechanism to tackle any emergency situation.
The Election Machinery of the Director (Panchayat and Municipal Elections) had to evaluate various strategies for deployment of Polling Personnel to remote locations like the hiring of dinghies which is the only means of transportation for a few polling stations in the Islands like Rutland, Pashimsagar, Hanspuri, Long Island etc., which were adhered to absolutely and the turnout of voters and the percentage of voting in all such locations were very high. The materials for Polling Stations at Swaraj and Shaheed Dweep were also sent by special sailing and whereas due to night landing constraints at Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep, the polled materials have been kept under security at the Strong Rooms in the respective Police Stations of the Islands and are planned to be brought back tomorrow by special boats.
The Director, Panchayat & Municipal Elections, Mr. Suneel Anchipaka kept the UT Election Commissioner apprised of the progress of polls every two hours.