Kochi: Chief electoral officer Teeka Ram Meena said the election commission would request the Union home department for more companies of paramilitary forces, in the backdrop of threats from left extremists, present in Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram and Palakkad.Though the state election commission had sought 149 companies of armed forces, the Centre alloted only 35. “During the previous general elections, we got 55 companies of paramilitary forces. There were then 905 sensitive booths. As per the preliminary reports, there are around 750 sensitive booths now. This would go up due to presence of left extremists,” said Meena.On Shashi Tharoor using the cover page of a book during election campaign, Meena said that reports have been sought from the returning officer as well as from police. “Once I get the reports, it would be forwarded to the election commission of India along with suggestions,” Meena said. It is up to the election commission to decide on it. However, Teeka Ram Meena hinted that given the fact that the book is a creative work by Tharoor, which came out much ahead of the election, it may not come under the ambit of code of conduct. “Still, we will consult the EC on whether it would come under the ambit of the code of conduct,” he said.Meena also said that the election commission would take stringent measures to ensure that money power and muscle power doesn’t influence the elections.Authorities have initiated measures to help physically-handicapped voters. They will be transported to the polling booths using government vehicles. There will be wheelchairs at all polling stations.

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