Rigorous Enforcement of Model Code of Conduct and Expenditure Monitoring in Ludhiana West By-Election

Ludhiana, June 11, 2025: The District Election Office (DEO), Ludhiana, today informed about the various actions taken for enforcement of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and expenditure monitoring for the ongoing By-Election in Assembly Constituency-64 (Ludhiana West). 

MCC enforcement is limited to Assembly Constituency-64 (Ludhiana West) as per ECI letter (Notification No. ECI/PN/220/2025 & Letter No.437/6/INST/ECI/FUNCT/MCC/2024), effective since 25th May 2025. 10 dedicated MCC teams (working 24x7) have removed 9,698 defacements (9,398 from public property, 293 from private property), including 656 violations within the first 48 hours of MCC enforcement. Bills of political advertisements are regularly forwarded by the Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana to the Expenditure Monitoring Cell for accurate candidate accounting.  

A multi-layered monitoring system supervised by an ECI-appointed Expenditure Observer Sh. Ashok Kumar Indana, Senior IRS officer is fully operational. Three inspections of candidate expenditure registers are scheduled on 9th, 13th, and 17th June 2025. The first inspection (9th June) saw 12 out of 14 candidates submit accounts; absentees were issued notices. During the training sessions for candidates (6th June) and political party meetings (8th May) it was conveyed about the ceiling of the ₹40-lakh expenditure cap (under R.P. Act, 1951).  

12 Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) deployed in 3 shifts (exceeding minimum norms) to ensure rapid response. So far, 538 c-VIGIL complaints have been received and resolved within mandated timelines i.e.100 minutes, reflecting high public awareness and prompt action. Number of FSTs have further been increased for strict vigil in coming days. 

The District Election Office reaffirms its commitment to conduct the Ludhiana West By-Election with absolute integrity, transparency, and adherence to Acts, Rules and ECI Guidelines. All stakeholders are urged to rely on verified information from official channels and utilize the cVIGIL app (available on Android/iOS) to report violations in real-time.