The Election Commission of India has started preparing to conduct assembly elections smoothly even in tribal region in Himachal Pradesh. There are three assembly constituencies in tribal region such as Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Bharmaur in the state. The people of these regions would cast their votes on November 14.

The EC has decided to set up a three-tier, fully operational communication network in place for people to easily access the polling booths on the day of voting. The EC has also arranged one helicopter that will be ready to face all contingencies such as snowfall, landslide on the day of polling or before the polling.

However, the meteorological data, collected in past by the EC for the preparation of polling at the all high altitude polling stations between 8,500 feet to 1,5000 feet, suggests the weather will be favorable on the day of polling. But, the EC has made an emergency plan for polling in the region in advance. For this, the EC has ordered the state government to keep all its 43 helipads in the region prepared for any emergency on the day of polling.

The EC has also, for the first time, allowed the police personnel, who will be deployed at the polling booths, to use their personal mobile phones on the polling day. The police personnel will be reimbursed the phone bills of the calls made during their poll duties on November 14.

Manisha Nanda, Chief Electoral Officer in Himachal Pradesh, said that the commission has also told the telephone service providers to make sure the congestion-free access to tribal region on the day of polling. The EC team has also allowed the state police to use the wireless communication network and satellite phones on that day.

She said:

There are 42 wireless links already available and another 190 are being added for the elections. In all, 298 wireless stations will be working round-the-clock to provide a stable communication network.

According to state DGP Ashwani Kumar, the police personnel, deputed on election duties, would start moving to the areas where the polling booths are located by this weekend. The state police would send additional personnel to the sensitive and hypersensitive polling booths. Hikkam, the highest polling booth in the stateat a height of 15,000-foot will also be connected through the wireless network.

Manisha Nanda further said that the polling parties would reach to their destination till November 11 with the sufficient number of EMVs with them for the polling. One additional company of the ITBP will be in-charge to guard the EVMs on the day of polling in the region.