Central Observers oversee poll preparedness in Tezpur Election District

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TEZPUR: A meeting to review the poll preparedness in Tezpur Election District was held in the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Saturday.

All six central observers deputed by the Election Commission of India took stock of the preparedness from District Election Officer (DEO), Superintendent of Police (SP) and all five Returning Officers under Tezpur Election District.

The meeting was chaired by B. Venugopal Reddy, General Observer for 73-Tezpur LAC. General Observer for 74-Rangapara and 75-Sootea, Biju K., , General Observer for 71-Dhekiajuli and 72-Borchalla, Dr. S. Suresh Kumar, Police Observer for Tezpur Election District, D.P. Gupta, Expenditure Observers Prasoon Kabra and AEP Dukuria were all present in the meeting.

DEO Manvendra Pratap Singh and SP Mugdhajyoti Dev Mahanta briefed the Observers about the preparation for the upcoming elections. Returning Officers for all LACs, CEO, Zilla Parishad, Diganta Baishya, ADCs Rohan Kumar Jha, Lachit Kumar Das, Satyajit Chetia also briefed the Observers about the progress of works in their respective LACs. The Observers laid stress on strict compliance of the Model Code of Conduct and asked all officials to ensure that any violation of MCC reported from any corner of the district be strictly dealt with.

All AROs and constituency magistrates were asked to immediately seize any vehicle bearing flag or name of political party/ candidate plying on the road without prior permission and kept in police station until poll if over. Necessary directions were also issued to all Flying Squads in this connection. All constituency magistrates were also asked to submit the LAC-wise figures of flag/posters and banners removed from public property since declaration of MCC to the central observers immediately. They also insisted that the election material displayed on private property without prior intimation would be deemed to be a part of election expenditure of the candidate.

The Observers also asked the Superintendent of Excise to step up the drive against illegal liquor, especially in areas sharing border with other States.

The police were also asked to ensure peaceful situation in the district ahead of the polls and as a confidence-building measure among the voters of the district, the police were asked to carry out a flag march in all of the LACs so that the people come out to cast their votes without fear or favour.

The Observers also asked the officials to create awareness among the public to use the cVIGIL app to report any cases of violation of the Model Code of Conduct in the district. The observers also told that use of mike/ public address systems and timing of use of such systems should be strictly adhered to.

District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner apprised the Observers about the various measures put in place to ensure COVID-19 protocol was maintained on the day of poll and availability of COVID-19 material such as masks and sanitizers, marking of waiting places at six feet distance, waiting shed provisions in all PS, among others. The Observers asked all ROs to ensure the Assured Minimum Facilities as identified by ECI are available in all PS well ahead of polling day.

In this connection, a flag march by the police led by DSP (Hqs) Dr. Rashmi Rekha Sarmah, Circle Officer Sanghamitra Baruah, personnel from BSF, CRPF, ITBP, APBn was carried out in areas under Tezpur LAC as a measure to enhance the confidence of the voters ahead of the upcoming polls on March 27. Similar flag marches will be held in all other LACs in the coming days.

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