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Indian police Wednesday reviewed security arrangements for candidates contesting the upcoming general elections and polling stations in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
The meeting attended by senior police and paramilitary officers was chaired by Special Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar.
"In the meeting it was impressed upon the participants to strictly implement the action plan for the security of candidates and polling booths," said a government spokesman.
"Mr. Kumar said the security arrangements for polling booths should be put in place keeping in view the sensitiveness of the area. Besides maintaining law and order during the election campaigning, security of the candidates should be focused on priority so that people could participate freely in democratic process."
The coordination among the police and paramilitary troops was stressed upon to ensure free and fair elections in the restive region.
The officers were directed to hold joint meetings at regular intervals for sharing inputs and planning a timely action to deal with any eventuality.
"Reports were sought from range Deputy Inspectors Generals and paramilitary officers present in the meeting about security scenario in their respective areas," the spokesman said.
The arrangements for deployment plan and logistic arrangements for the additional forces to be deployed for election duty were also discussed.
Indian Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is likely to contest from one constituency of the region on Congress ticket.
Polling for the 16th Indian general elections would be held in five staggered phases in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Officials said a total of 9633 polling stations would be set up across Indian-controlled Kashmir for people to cast their vote. These booths would be set up at 7346 locations and of these officials said 4059 have been declared as critical.Around seven million voters including 3.2 million women are expected to cast vote in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir.
During the upcoming Indian elections the Congress party is seeking to regain power under the leadership of Rahul Gandhithe fourth generation scion of India's powerful Nehru-Gandhi clan. He would be facing Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate for rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Analysts say there would be a tough fight between ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance and its main opposition BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.The Congress party is seeking a comeback for the third successive term, however its image suffered due to unearthing of series of corruption scams. The BJP' s hopes are high with its PM candidate Modi, a controversial figure.
Modi is blamed for doing little to stop the 2002 religious riots in Gujarat. The pogrom worst in recent Indian history saw more than 1,000 Muslims killed and thousands displaced across Gujarat in 2002.
However, the newly launched anti-corruption party Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or Common man's party is flexing its muscles to emerge as a power in the upcoming elections. The party unpredictably emerged as a second largest party in local elections at New Delhi, following which its chief ran a 49 day coalition government.
