District Election Officer Manvendra Pratap Singh reviews poll preparations in Tezpur

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TEZPUR: District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner Manvendra Pratap Singh, reviewed the poll preparedness under Tezpur Election District in a meeting held at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner's Office, where General Observers Dinesh T Waghmare, K. Biju, Dr. S. Suresh Kumar, and Police Observer DK Gupta, were also present.

The officers in-charge of various cells who were present in the meeting apprised the DEO about the progress of works so far under the various cells. Election Officer i/c Antaripa Daimari gave a brief presentation about the poll preparedness in the district and informed that the first round of training had been imparted to all polling personnel along with Zonal and Sector officers. The second round of training for polling officers is scheduled from March 13. Moreover, a briefing of all micro-observers was also carried out by master trainers in the presence of central observers and they have been informed about their role during the elections.

On the other hand, the first level randomization was carried out on March 6 during which 27 per cent of all Ballot Units, Control Units and VVPAT machines have been kept in reserve over and above the required number of 1,324 against each polling station in the district. The second level randomization was carried out on Saturday.

In order to ensure free and fair elections in the district and keep an eye on any possible violation of the Model Code of Conduct, Static Surveillance Teams and Flying Squad teams have been allocated to each of the five Assembly constituencies falling under Tezpur election district under the supervision of the respective Circle Officers. These squads are carrying out regular checks in the areas under their respective jurisdiction. Expenditure monitoring and video viewing teams have also been set up assembly-constituency wise.

Earlier, a meeting of all central observers with representatives of various political parties was also held after the last day of withdrawal of nominations on Friday where issues related to the Model Code of Conduct, expenditure limit for candidates, rules of campaigning, deployment of agents on polling and counting days, submission of expenditure statements for scrutiny, among others were discussed.

General Observer for 73 Tezpur LAC Dinesh T Waghmare, IAS, apprised the candidates/ political parties about the various measures put in place for ensuring free and fair elections in the district. Police Observer for Tezpur Election District DK Gupta said that the government machinery was working impartially to ensure a level playing field for all candidates and that neutral micro observers would be placed across the district to ensure free and fair polls.

General Observer to 74-Rangapara and 75-Sootea LACs, K Biju informed the candidates about different IT applications made available for the general people and candidates and also about strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. General Observer to 71-Dhekiajuli and 72-Borchalla LACs asked all contesting candidates to strictly follow COVID-19 protocol and safety measures while campaigning. Expenditure Observer for 71-Dhekiajuli and 74-Rangapara LACs, AEP Dukuria spoke about the expenditure limits for candidates and informed about the cash seizures made so far in the district.

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