The cluster culture a day or night ahead of the actual date of polling will be a low key affair this 2024 lok sabha election. 

Palamu had seen P minus 1 and P minus 2 arrival of the polling parties at the designated clusters all for the dread of the naxals in the past when polling parties used to travel incognito either by train, goods train or by road all for the fear of the naxals. 

P minus 1 means a day ahead of the scheduled voting and P minus 2 means two days ahead of the polling. 

As extremism is on the wane here the number of clusters is to be scaled down. It will directly reach the polling booths and retreat as far as possible. 

Extremists are definitely down but not out. Splinter groups like TSPC, JJMP etc will not like to be painted as any hindrance to election as it will then marginalise their vote management premium from the contestants. 

The Election Commission of India has asked for a minimal setting up of clusters that too must be in proportion of the threat perception or security hazard. 

The cluster used to be like an 'inn' of the 15th or 16th century of England where travellers used to change horses and take rest and food before embarking on new errands. 

Here in Palamu it was the 'halt' of the polling parties before reaching their respective booths understandably for the reasons of safety and security. 

The nodal officer of the Karmik Koshaang Kundan Kumar who is additional collector here quoting ECI's directive said that there will be only need based clusters where security hazards or security's vulnerability is most manifest and evident. 

Assessment of security hazard or vulnerable security is to be done in a very dispassionate manner and with clinical precision without overblowing or understating the situation, said sources.