Report sought from Vidhan Sabha regarding alleged notification of vacation of seat

Chandigarh, March 25, 2014: The Chief Electoral Officer Punjab today sought comments from Secretary, Punjab Vidhan Sabha on the complaint of Sukhpal Singh Khaira, ex-MLA Congress party who had alleged that Vidhan Sabha had issued notification on March 7 regarding vacation of seat of Talwandi Sabo assembly constituency after resignation by its MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu.
Briefing the media persons, Raminder Singh, Additional CEO Punjab said that Sukhpal Singh Khaira had approached CEO Punjab with a complaint in the afternoon and CEO office has sought reply from Secretary, Vidhan Sabha this evening. It may be added that earlier Punjab Vidhan Sabha in its reply had indicated that notification could not be issued pending its legal examination. Raminder Singh said that CEO would await reply from Secretary, Vidhan Sabha before forwarding it to Election Commission of India for further necessary action.
Giving the details about complaints received by the Election Commission, Singh said that after March 5, 2014 a total 309 complaints have been received out of which 64 had been disposed of and 245 were pending. He said that mostly complaints related to violation of Model Code of Conduct, routine transfers and petty disputes. He said that on the direction of Election Commission of India more than 147263 weapons have already been deposited by the people and maximum weapons have been deposited in district Patiala (15775) and minimum have been deposited in district Kapurthala (1451). He said that one more illegal weapon was seized during last 24 hours raising its number to 34. He said that 4139 non-bailable warrants have been executed and 3314 NBWs were pending. He said that Punjab Police has bound down 2145 people under various sections fearing breach of peace. He said that in Tarn Taran maximum 603 persons have been bound down.
Speaking about 1950 call centre operationalised by ECI, Raminder Singh said that till date 2674 calls have been received and 2665 have been disposed off and maximum call have been received from district Ludhiana.
The Additional CEO said that Election Commission of India has issued detailed guidelines for issuance of certificate to advertisement of political nature on electronic media. He said that every national and state party and contesting candidates proposing to issuing advertisement on television/cable channel would have to apply to ECI three days prior to commencement of such advertisement. And his application should be accompanied by 2 copies of proposed advertisement with duly attested transcript.
He said that the ECI has also circulated detailed guidelines of Ministry of Finance for transportation of clean and genuine cash by banks during elections. He said that the bank have been asked to ensure that cash vans of outsourced agencies carrying banks cash would not under any circumstances carry cash of any third party agency/individuals except banks.
He said that state government has already been issued instructions regarding deletion of all references on politicians/ministers on the official websites during the period of Lok Sabha elections.