Ludhiana | June 15 – To maintain transparency and tighten surveillance during the Ludhiana West bypoll, the district administration has installed 235 high-resolution CCTV cameras across 194 polling stations. The live polling process will be webcasted in real-time on June 19 through a centralised control centre.
Of the total cameras, 194 have been installed inside polling stations and 41 outside, ensuring continuous visual coverage of voter queues, polling activities, and surrounding areas. District electoral officer Himanshu Jain said the cameras are supported by high-speed internet connectivity to guarantee steady live streaming throughout the day.
“This setup enables real-time monitoring from the control room at the district administrative complex, helping us ensure the polling process is conducted fairly and securely,” Jain stated after overseeing the first successful trial run of the webcasting system on Saturday, accompanied by ADC (Rural Development) Amarjit Bains and other officials.
In parallel, the first randomisation of vote counting staff has been completed under Jain’s supervision. A total of 120 personnel were assigned to counting duties scheduled for June 23. “Each of the 40 counting teams will have a supervisor, an assistant, and a micro-observer to ensure fairness in the process,” said Jain, adding that the first training session for counting staff will be held shortly.
Meanwhile, the second inspection of poll expenditure accounts for all 14 contesting candidates was conducted on Friday by expenditure observer Indana Ashok Kumar at Bachat Bhawan. The shadow registers submitted by candidates were cross-verified with their expense records in the presence of ADC Amarjit Bains and members of the expenditure monitoring committee.
Independent candidate Gurdeep Singh Kahlon was the only absentee during the inspection. The third and final account verification for all candidates is scheduled for June 17.
With surveillance in place, staff assigned, and financial scrutiny ongoing, officials said the district is on track to deliver a smooth, transparent and accountable electoral process.
