Distance and terrain take ballots to voters early in Kalimpong

 Polling personnel sent to the homes of absentee voters of senior citizens and people with disabilities to exercise their franchise 12 days before the voting on April 17

An elderly woman casts her vote at her home in Kalimpong on Monday: Telegraph picture

Vivek Chhetri   |   TT | Darjeeling   |   06.04.21 : Candidates in the Kalimpong Assembly segment have just started election campaign after having been allotted their symbols two days ago but the voting started on Monday.

The Kalimpong district election office sent polling personnel to the homes of absentee voters of senior citizens and people with disabilities to exercise their franchise 12 days before the voting on April 17.

“We started early as the terrain is difficult in our constituency. At many places, officials have to walk considerable distance to reach the voter’s house,” said Vimala Ranganathan, the district magistrate and district election officer of Kalimpong constituency.

The authorities had identified absentee voters of 5,500-odd people — citizens aged above 80 and those with disabilities — through the voters’ list. One has to meet the benchmark disability criterion of 40 per cent to avail oneself of the facility which was introduced in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our officials then went to their houses with form 12-d to know whether they wanted to cast votes through postal ballots at their doorstep or visit the polling station on the voting day,” said Vimala.

Around 2,400 absentee voters wanted to exercise their franchise sitting at home.

The visiting polling team comprises two election personnel, a videographer, one micro-observer and paramilitary troopers and state police personnel numbering two each.

A video released by the district administration shows Krishna Maya Rai, an octogenarian, who cast her vote on Monday. The video says she cast her vote after 63 years.

“Booth Level Officers (BLO) are intimating the voters and the family of the scheduled visits by the polling personnel in advance as they cannot read text messages,” said Vimala.

The authorities are planning to complete the process within 10 days. “At some places like Today-Tangta in Gorubathan, it might take more than two hours to visit just one house,” the official added.

Only four to five voters can be covered in a day in certain areas. “We have put in a lot of meticulous planning for this exercise,” Vimala said.