Rajahmundry: East Godavari District Collector and Returning Officer for East and West Godavari Teachers’ Constituency H Arun Kumar said all arrangements were being made in the twin Godavari districts for the elections to be held on March 22.During a video-conference with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Bhanwar Lal on Friday, the Collector said 21,551 voters were expected to exercise their franchise in both districts and 117 polling stations were proposed to be set up.

He said 132 polling officers and 195 other staff were drafted for this purpose. Training programmes would be held for the staff for polling and counting. He said 27 zonal officers with magisterial powers and webcasting facility in all the mandals, including the newly added four mandals, were also planned. Services of students of JNTU-Kakinada would be used for webcasting during the elections, he added.

East Godavari Superintendent of Police M Ravi Prakash said 18 mobile parties and 24 striking forces would be deployed on the day of polling. Rajahmundry urban district SP S Hari Krishna said tight security arrangements were made at the nine polling stations in the Rajahmundry urban district area.