The UP Election Juggernaut
The time is 7 am and the polls have opened. There are two BSF personnel manning each polling station. There is machine gun nest manned by one BSF jawan on top on the terrace of the polling station with his finger curled round the trigger. You might have seen the odd picture in the papers. But the pictures do not do you justice. It is an impressive sight to see and experience. Battle hardened, no nonsense soldiers protecting you as you vote and as you collect votes.
The previous day we were ushered into the polling stations with all our equipment and literally handed over to the BSF. Half an hour later they came round politely asking how many of us there were and giving us the general rules. We were sealed inside the compound. No one was allowed out or into the compound. Dinner, snacks, anything had to be obtained with their permission and through the watchman only. Under no circumstance were polling staff allowed outside the gates. For your protection we were told and by God we agreed.
The state Police were also present and for the moment they were allowed to venture into the polling station. They were told to confine themselves to the gate and the gate only. The BSF jawans were in uniform and even now had guns. While chatting with the police they told us this was nothing. The exact words that the constable told us were ‘come tomorrow morning these men will not eat, sleep or even sit down. They will not move even to get a drink of water. Their primary objective is the polling station assigned to them." He seemed awed as he told us this.
He was right. The next day by the time the polls started, they were in position in full combat regalia. Polling agents of any party were unceremoniously told to comply with regulations in force or get the hell out. Their orders were met with 100% compliance. Anyone who has done poll duty till now will know how polling agents behave. This time there was apprehension in their eyes and they sat outside. They were not allowed to talk to anyone or address anyone.
One agent tried and was immediately accosted and threatened effectively with minimum use of force and the voter was ushered in. The BSF collected poll data independent to the EC appointed magistrates and transmitted them to a central unit where the data was recorded.
UP election, 2007 was run like a tightly managed ship and run well at that.
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