A Correspondent
Tezpur: A meeting of district administration officials with representatives of various political parties was held at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, after the last date of withdrawal of nominations on October 3 for the upcoming by-elections to 74-Rangapara LAC, where general observer Pabitra Mandal was also present. The meeting which was chaired by District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner Manvendra Pratap Singh discussed issues related to the Model Code of Conduct, expenditure limit for candidates, rules of campaigning, deployment of agents on polling and counting days, among others.
Addressing the meeting, general observer Pabitra Mandal urged the political parties to follow all guidelines as laid down by the Election Commission of India and sought cooperation of all political parties and public representatives for smooth conduct of the upcoming polls. To report any kind of discrepancies in the poll process etc., one can contact the Observer at 70022-80091 over phone or meet him between 10 and 11am at the Observer Cell set up at Circuit House, Tezpur.
District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner Manvendra Pratap Singh asked the political parties and representatives to seek prior permission from the district administration for holding rallies, campaigning through loudspeakers or for holding public meetings. CEO Zila Parishad and Returning Officer Diganta Baishya, District Development Commissioner Farouk Alam, Addl Deputy Commissioners Parag Kakaty and Kulen Sarma, Election Officer Subhram Aditya Bora were also present in the meeting. The candidates were also asked to submit expenditure statements at regular intervals for scrutiny of the Expenditure Observer failing which action will be initiated as per guidelines against the erring candidates.