Election Observer takes stock of poll preparedness in Hailakandi district

Hailakandi, March 29, 2019:

Election Observer to HP 1 Karimganj SC Constituency, Abhinav Chandra, reviewed the poll preparedness in Hailakandi district and took stock of the law and order situation in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Election Observer Chandra held a meeting here on Friday with district and police officials to take stock of the poll preparedness and the security arrangements put in place to ensure hassle-free conduct of the elections.

District Election Officer, Keerthi Jalli apprised the Election Observer about the steps taken by the administration to ensure smooth and impartial conduct of the upcoming elections in the district and also about the voter awareness campaign carried out in a big way under SVEEP to increase voter turnout.

Jalli revealed that Hailakandi district that constitutes a sizeable part of the Karimganj parliamentary constituency has been divided into eight zones and 56 sectors with 15 sub centres.

Chandra also took stock of the Assured Minimum Facilities to be put up in the polling stations as well as providing facilities to persons with disabilities (PwDs) and elderly citizens. The district administration is setting up six women polling stations – two each at Panchgram, Hailakandi and Katlicherra.

Earlier, at a meeting with representatives of political parties and media persons, Election Observer Chandra made it categorically clear that he would not tolerate any violation of the Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct by the political parties and the candidates and asked them to abide by the dos and don’ts in toto. He also warned that if any polling official does not maintain neutrality or impartiality during the conduct of the polls, he or she will not be spared. Chandra also asked the administration not to engage any polling official who has been found to have acted in a biased manner in any previous elections.

Chandra said massive randomisation of EVMs is on to prevent any tampering with them ahead of the polls and under the process of randomising the voting machines are selected randomly before being sent to polling stations so that nobody of influence can get to know the whereabouts of any specific EVM beforehand. Appreciating the slew of steps initiated by the administration to create voter awareness throughout the district, the Election Observer asked the DEO to step up the process of building awareness on use of EVM and VVPAT. Jalli asked the voters to get on hands-on training on use of EVM and VVPAT in the mock polling station set up at her office premises.

The Election Observer said analysing of sensitivity of polling stations are being done and on the basis of the information collated from ground zero, deployment of forces will be carried out. He said a group of micro observers will be deployed this time around who will provide information on a real-time basis. Chandra also urged the media persons and representatives of political parties to provide feedback so that necessary security arrangements can be put in place.

Jalli disclosed that as part of the security mechanism, Circle Officers, AROs, Executive Magistrates and officials armed with magisterial powers will move from one polling station to another to tackle any situation during the day of polling. “I do not see any reason for any lapse on the part of the administration in conducting the polls in a free and fair manner,” added Jalli.

Besides toll free no 1950, the district administration has opened a control room with phone numbers 22337703844 and 18003453550 for lodging of any election-related complaints. The general public, political parties and media persons can contact the Election Observer at his mobile numbers 6002656645/9434243424 and e-mail id: observer.2019elections@gmail.com Jalli, while urging the media persons not to publish ‘fake news’ or ‘misreporting’ and to cross-check information with the administration, assured that genuine complaints would be looked into and redressed.

SP Mohneesh Mishra made it clear that the police administration will act tough against anyone found vitiating the atmosphere and that it has on its radar the trouble- mongers. “If anyone disturbs the peace and tranquillity, harsh action will be taken,” warned Mishra.

The district administration has developed a unique App ‘NICetr’ (Sanskrit word for Observer) to detect electoral malpractice, besides arranging live webcasting from 40 polling stations as part of its drive to ensure free and fair elections slated for April 18.