CEC Gyanesh Kumar briefs 326 observers for TN polls on April 23​

New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Friday briefed the 326 Central Observers - General, Police, Expenditure - for the April 23 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, stressing the strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.​

During the review meeting, the CEC also directed prompt action in case of any complaints of violations.​

He also instructed the Observers to ensure that Elections are held in a festive mood, free and fair, and free of any kind of inducement, intimidation, or violence.​

A total of 326 Central Observers and Special Expenditure Observers, along with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu, attended the briefing via videoconferencing, the statement said.​

The CEC addressed the Central Observers along with Election Commissioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, said a statement.​

For the 234 Assembly constituencies in the southern state, the ECI has deployed 136 general observers, 40 police observers, and 150 expenditure observers, it said.​

CEC Gyanesh Kumar told the observers that webcasting monitoring control room arrangements should be properly checked and a trial run conducted in the presence of all the staff posted there for monitoring, who should be well trained to identify and flag errors.​

The Commission also told the observers to publicise their contact numbers and place and time of hearing the complaints from the public/political parties/candidates, or their agents.​

They were also directed to oversee if trainings of Presiding Officers have been done properly with special emphasis on timely feeding of two-hourly and close of poll voter turnout and other data on voter turnout module of ECINET, proper application of indelible ink, filling up of form 17-C and sharing with the polling agents present at close of poll, deletion of mock poll data amongst others.​

With a view to ensuring a friendly experience for voters, CEC Gyanesh Kumar directed the observers to ensure the availability of assured minimum facilities at all polling stations, including a mobile phone deposit facility and benches in voter queues.​

They were also directed to ensure adequate drinking water and arrangements for shade at all polling stations in view of the hot weather, the statement said.​

--IANS

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