CEO seeks cooperation from political parties to ensure free and fair elections in Punjab

Chandigarh, March 7, 2014: Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), V.K. Singh today sought cooperation from the representative of all political parties to ensure free and fair Lok Sabha elections in the state with strict implementation of model code of conduct thereby encouraging the voters for ethical voting to strengthen the institute of democracy.
Presiding over an all party representatives’ meeting here, Singh said that state was going for Lok Sabha poll on April 30, 2014 and the notification for these elections would be issued on April 2. He pointed out that it becomes imperative for all political parties and their candidates to strictly adhere to the model code of conduct for the smooth, transparent and participative election process. He said that as per the directions of Election Commission of India (ECI) around 700 special teams, which includes 3 each static teams and flying squads besides a video surveillance team for each assembly constituency to check any malpractice or violation of code during the ongoing election process.
The CEO said that all the political parties and their candidates should ensure strict compliance of ECI’s directions regarding expenditure limit, which was increased to 70 lacs with special emphasis on up-keeping the expenditure account that too according to the rate list being provided by the concerned District Electoral Officer (DEO). He mentioned that ECI has taken strong notice of paid news and surrogate advertisements and every suspicious news or advertisement would be scrutinized by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) and if found paid or surrogated then the expenditure on those would be included in the expenditure of concerned candidate. He further said that all the parties should submit their list of star campaigners to the ECI in time so that expenditure related to such campaigners would be proportionately added to the party as well as candidate/candidates expenditure. He categorically said that every printed publicity matter must mention the name of printer and publisher.
He informed that as per the directions of ECI , a special “voter mela” was being organised throughout the state on March 9, 2014 at all 22018 polling booths with the twin purpose ; firstly to give an opportunity to the voters to check their names in electoral rolls and secondly to give left over voters a chance to get them registered as voters by filling form No-6. He exhorted the political parties to send their representatives on the polling booths to facilitate voters as well as booth level officers.
Later on, accompanied by Raminder Singh, Additional CEO and B. Purusartha, Additional CEO (SVEEP), the CEO V.K. Singh reviewed the arrangements for March 9 voter mela with all DEOs through video conferencing and directed them to personally or through their subordinate officers visit at least 10 per cent polling booths of their respective jurisdiction. He further directed them to keep a strict vigil on any case or news regarding violation of model code of conduct.
Prominent amongst other, who attended the meeting includes; K.K. Sachdeva (SAD), Gurnam Kanwar (CPI), Nirmal Chand (INC) and Raghunath Singh and Ranjit Singh (CPI-M).