ECI directs to remove foundation stones laid by Bibi Jagir Kaur

Chandigarh, March 21: The Election Commission of India today issued directions to District Administration, Kapurthala for immediate removal of foundation stones laid by Bibi Jagir Kaur for different projects to be completed from MPLAD funds.
Giving the details, the Additional CEO Raminder Singh said that ECI took notice of complaint of Santosh Chaudhary, MP Hoshiarpur who had alleged that Bibi Jagir Kaur without any official authority or taking District Administration into confidence had laid the foundation stones one day prior to she was officially supposed to do.
Raminder Singh said that directions have also been issued for random checking of vehicles of political persons, VIPs by flying squads/static surveillance teams. He said that to check the harassment of the general public during elections it has been decided that if the cash being carried by a person other than political person or without campaign material or flag was more than Rs.50,000 and there was no suspicion of any crime or bribing of electors, the person should not be unduly harassed. In the case of cash found more than Rs.10 lac the information should be forwarded to nodal officer of Income Tax Department.
The Election Commission today declared all AROs as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) for cohesiveness in election process right from polling to counting process and to ensure single point accountability.
The Punjab government on the request of Election Commission today designated all Gazetted Officers with Grade Pay of Rs.5000 and more as Executive Magistrates for the purpose of maintenance of Law & Order in the state during election process.
Issuing directions regarding prohibition on sale of liquor, the Election Commission asked to declare and notify dry day during 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of poll. It would include the date of re-poll, if any. The Commission further directs that the dates on which counting of votes was to be taken up i.e. May 16 should also be declared dry day.
The ECI has further directed that to enhance people participation in these elections, certificates should be given as incentives for higher turnout districts. Small bands playing voter participation themes may be organized in public places, suitably in rural as well as urban areas. Besides this voter’s participation messages should be displayed on all transport vehicles through transport department.
Underlining the need for ensuring dignity of polling staff during the polling process, the ECI categorically directed that facilitation of polling staff should be an integral part of election management plan. The DEO should designate a senior officer as Nodal Officer to coordinate and supervise polling personnel welfare measures. While assigning election duties to various officials, their seniority should be taken into account and no senior official should be put on duty under any junior officer. The polling personnel should not face any difficulty getting food in remote locations. Medical staff/paramedical staff should be stationed at training centers and dispatch/reception centers besides every polling party should be supplied with oral rehydration salts for their own use as well as for any voter needing the same due to heat stroke. It has also been directed that senior officer should supervise the arrangements made for providing transport vehicles for the travel of polling personnel. All DEOs should made arrangements for prompt payment of remuneration to the polling personnel. The Commission has also exempted certain offices/institutions for the purposes of election duty in view of the essential nature of duties/services discharged by the institutions. Besides this, physically challenged persons could not be deployed for polling duty.