Punjab CEO reviews poll arrangements with deputy commissioners

Chandigarh, March 13, 2014: The Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), VK Singh has directed the Deputy Commissioners to check any violation of model code of conduct (MCC) in their respective districts followed by prompt action besides putting in place the required logistic arrangements well in advance to ensure smooth conduct of Lok Sabha elections-2014.
Presiding over a meeting of all Deputy Commissioners to review poll arrangements, Singh pointed out that his office was getting complaints regarding issuance of blue cards, bicycles, distribution of wheat by involving local political workers, hoardings and defacement of public property. He said that after implementation of MCC, it becomes imperative for all District Electoral Officers (DEOs) and Deputy Commissioners to ensure that there should not be any violation and if anything was being reported, they should take swift action.
The CEO said that the logistic arrangements were a gigantic task and they should do their home work well in advance and assured them regarding provision of required funds. He said that now there were clear cut directions regarding carrying cash and if some body was found or intercepted with cash more than Rs. 10 lac , the matter should be immediately reported to Income Tax authorities.
The CEO further directed them to set up district wise Control Rooms under the supervision of efficient officials with clear directions to contact the concerned person regarding any reported violation of MCC and publicize their contact numbers through media. He also asked them to identify the critical polling stations as under new instructions; any polling station which had registered 90 percent polling with 75 percent votes polled to a particular candidate would fall under this category.
He asked them to encourage more and more people especially first time voters and women to use their right to franchise and handed over them Information kit with detailed instructions in this regard. Besides this, an appreciation letter should also be given to first time voters. He said that arrangements were being made for live web cast of 500 polling booths in comparison of 200 booths in previous elections.
Besides all Deputy Commissioners, Raminder Singh Additional CEO and B. Purushartha, Additional CEO(SVEEP) were also present in the meeting.