Nilgiris District Collector and Election Officer Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru along with representatives of political parties inspected the EVM vault after randomization at the Additional Collector’s office in Udhagamandalam on Monday. | Photo credit: SATHYAMOORTHY M.
Five polling stations in Udhagamandalam, two in Gudalur and six in Coonoor Assembly constituencies that recorded below average electoral results during the last elections have been identified and targeted for SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) activities to improve voter turnout, The Nilgiris District Collector and District Electoral Officer Tanmi Laksh said on Monday.
“Various awareness activities, confidence-building measures and encouraging participation and voting are being carried out,” Ms Tanneeru said, adding that new voters are also being targeted under the initiative. She said booths which may also be difficult to access for Adivasi communities are being identified and arrangements are being made to transport them to the polling stations.
She also said that between March 15 and March 22, ₹2.59 crore in cash and bullion was seized. She said seized property worth ₹2.48 crore has also been released.
“The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed that genuine tourists should not be harassed with seizures. Teams have been directed to ensure that tourists are not inconvenienced if they do not carry large sums of money,” she said. The collector added that following complaints from tourists about seizure, the seized amount is released in less than 24 hours after verification.
Nilgiris District Superintendent of Police NS Nisha said that 22 kg of banned tobacco products were seized this year as part of the election preparations, 60 cases were registered. More than 159 liters of liquor were also seized, mainly at inter-state border crossings where 52 liters were seized, she said.
A total of 140 non-bailable warrants were executed, she said, with 361 of the 397 registered guns being deposited with police.
On Monday, the first EVM randomization was conducted in The Nilgiris. After randomisation, the machines will be taken to vaults in the three assembly segments of Udhagamandalam, Coonoor and Gudalur, where they will be under 24-hour security.
Published – 23 March 2026 17:43 IST
