New Delhi [India], April 18 : As many as 3,15,000 registered voters will exercise their rights on Friday in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the lone parliamentary constituency of the Union Territory will go to polls on Friday.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are two main political parties in the Union Territory and are going to lock their horns to register victory on the sole parliamentary constituency for their respective parties.
The BJP has picked Bishnu Pada Ray, while the Congress has re-nominated Kuldeep Rai Sharma. Congress leader Kuldeep Rai Sharma is the current MP in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Over 5000 first time voters will exercise their rights on Friday and according to the officials, critical areas have been identified which are those areas where more than 90 per cent of voting takes place.
"This time in Andaman AND Nicobar, the number of new voters in the age group of 18-19 years is around 5300. The total number of voters is 3,15,000. In which the percentage of men and women voters is 52:48," Chief Electoral Officer BS Jaglan said.
A total of 412 polling stations have been set up for the elections, he added.
"We are fully prepared. We have total 412 polling stations and polling parties. We have 30-35 per cent polling parties have been kept reserved and they will also be available," he added.
Out of 412 polling stations, there are 9 are model polling station while 9 are pink polling booth which will be managed by women only, the officials said.
In the 2019 general election, Kuldeep Rai Sharma emerged victorious over Vishal Jolly of the BJP by a narrow margin of 1,407 votes.
The voter turnout stood at 65.18 per cent, with 16 candidates contesting the election.
The islands, being located close to Southeast Asia, constitute just 0.2 per cent of India's landmass but account for 30 per cent of the country's 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
All-round progress of the islands is a desirable goal, with the locals considering the main issues in the Andaman and Nicobar Lok Sabha constituency to be roads, water, electricity, and transportation facilities.