- By Mayukh Debnath
- Mon, 06 Nov 2023 06:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
For the first time in the history of Chhattisgarh, a female officer has been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing Assembly elections in the state. Reena Kangale is an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer who has been appointed as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly election. Kangale's father is a retired Indian Police Services (IPS) officer.
As part of her duty as Chhattisgarh's CEO, she has even visited some of the state's Naxal-affected areas for inspection in view of the upcoming Assembly polls, Jagran Prakashan's Naidunia reported. Polling for the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly Election will be held in two phases on November 7 and November 17. The counting of votes will commence on December 3 and official results are expected to be declared by December 5, as per the Election Commission.
Teams of booth officials for the first phase have been dispatched. Out of the 20 seats being contested in the first phase, 12 are highly sensitive. As many as 50% more security personnel in comparison to 2018 are to be deployed this time for Assembly polls. Around one lakh personnel have been pressed into service for security duty in the 20 constituencies where elections are scheduled to be held on Tuesday.
In an interview with Naidunia, Kangale exuded confidence in the security arrangements that are in place for the voting day. Through Naidunia, she also encouraged voters to participate in voting in large numbers. We are hopeful that voters will break records this time, she said. Below are the questions posed by Naidunia and the answers given by Kangale:
Q. How do you feel about the fact that responsibility for the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly election rests on your shoulders?
A. I feel elated and proud that I have been bestowed with the opportunity to contribute to this great festival of democracy as the Chief Electoral Officer. As the state's CEO, I have been given the responsibility of holding free, fair, easy and inclusive elections. I was trusted. I will maintain this trust.
Q. What are the preparations and challenges regarding voting in the first phase, especially in the Bastar region?
A. Some areas in the Bastar district are highly remote. There are some areas which are affected by Naxalism. Tight security arrangements are being ensured in all such areas for a successful and unhindered voting process. Special preparations have been made for security arrangements in sensitive polling stations by holding regular meetings with officials of the security forces. Due to better security arrangements, votes will be cast in 3,629 existing as well as 126 new polling stations.
Q. On being asked about women being given the complete responsibility to conduct voting in two Assembly constituencies, Kangale said:
A. Chhattisgarh is the first such state where the number of female voters is greater than the number of male voters. By giving the responsibility of elections in the two Assembly constituencies of the state capital solely to women, we have tried to convey that women can also excel where men can.
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Q. Do you draw inspiration from your father, a former IPS?
A. This has always been a matter of pride. When I review security arrangements in sensitive areas, I understand what major challenges my father, as an IPS officer, must have faced and solved successfully. The realisation further strengthens that sense of pride.
Reena Kangale's Personal And Professional Background
Reena Kangale is a 2003 batch IAS officer and has previously served as district magistrate in Durg, Dantewada, and Korba. She assumed her current office in January 2020. During her LLB, she was awarded a total of 11 gold medals by her university. Kangale was born on March 8, 1978, in Maharashtra's Nagpur. She completed her LLB from Nagpur University. Her father has been the police commissioner of Nagpur. Besides her stints as district magistrate, Kangale has also served in key posts of the school, mineral, commercial tax and other departments.
