Briefing reporters, District Collector Anil Mukim, Police Commissioner J Mahapatra, District Development Officer Anju Sharma and District Superintendent of Police Vivek Shrivastava said policing in the entire district had been intensified and steps taken to stem the flow of liquor from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Interestingly, the officials said that an exception had been made for rural and border villages in the district for the deposition of licensed arms in view of apprehensions of attacks by tribals from other States. Only about 50 per cent of the about 5,000 arms-holders have been asked to deposit their weapons.

The officials said there were 24,01,342 voters in the two constituencies this time -- 30,000 more than the last year -- besides 272 service voters. Special police protection has been arranged for 1,499 polling booths in Vadodara and 1,205 in the Chhotaudepur; a contingency plan has also been made in case it rains.

Mahapatra said a number of preventive arrests, including those of bootleggers, had been made. ``Though the police strength is not adequate, their morale is high'', Mahapatra and Shrivastava said, adding that they didn't expect any untoward incidents in the district.

Mukim and Sharma said a large number of banners and posters belonging to different political parties had been removed from public places under the code of conduct, action taken against 10 government officials said to be partial in their poll duty and two non-licensed vehicles seized.

According to the spokespersons, more than a dozen offices would also be opened on the poll day to clear any confusion among voters. The collectorate will act as the control room and will have hotlines with Chhotaudepur, Gandhinagar and New Delhi. Authorities would also be informed about the progress of the polling through modem, the spokespersons added.

There are more than 20,000 officials, including about 4,000 police personnel, on duty throughout the district for the election, they added.