Jalandhar Cantt declared expenditure sensitive

Gagandeep Singh

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 5

After the election code of conduct came into force in the city, the district administration today declared Jalandhar Cantonment as an expenditure sensitive constituency. It has decided to install Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in Jalandhar Cantonment and Jalandhar Central.

Addressing the media here today, Kamal Kishor Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, said after detailed examination from various sources, the district administration had found that in the expenditure sensitive constituency of the district they suspect that money power could be used to attract voters.

The DC said as per directions of the Election Commission, they would also keep surveillance on paid news that had been prevalent in previous elections.

He said a set of guidelines had been prepared by the Election Commission to distinguish between genuine and paid news. If paid news is found, then the cost of the same would be added to respective party’s expenditure.The DC said there were 27 flying squads and 27 static surveillance teams in Assembly Constituencies of the district, which would be operational round the clock. Whereas the flying squads will conduct surprise raids acting on intelligence inputs or any specific complaint regarding any violation of the poll code, the static surveillance teams will create check-posts for checking and frisking on roads. In addition, there would be flying squads of the Excise Department to check illicit liquor during the elections. All proceedings of the flying squads and static surveillance teams were being videographed.

Facilitation centre inaugurated

As the election code of conduct has been imposed in the state, the District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commission, Jalandhar, today inaugurated a ‘facilitation centre’.

The DC, Kamal Kishor Yadav, said through the centre people would be provided assistance in getting any information online.

People can get any information regarding voter list or elections and lodge their complaints or grievances about violation of the poll code on a toll free no. 18001801612. In addition, they can also contact 0172-1950 — the toll free number of the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, for getting any information.

Violations

More violations on part of the BJP surfaced as it carried out its Vijay Sankalp Yatra across the city. Party leaders used a bus shelter of the MC to hang their hoardings, besides covering the government land completely with chairs at one of the stopovers in the Jalandhar Central constituency.

Tackling unaccounted cash

Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishor Yadav said poll teams had begun checking of vehicles to check unaccounted cash. He said even if the amount would be above Rs 50,000, the vehicle owner would have to show documents related to its bank withdrawal. "Unaccounted cash less than Rs 2.5 lakh would not be seized but a report regarding the same would be sent to the Income Tax Department for further probe. Any amount larger than this, however, could be withheld if the bearer was not able to explain the source,” he said.

Probe ordered into use of temple premises by BJP

Following a report of the BJP performing its activities at its old office at Shitla Mata Mandir, a team of poll officials on Thursday visited the temple to check the violation, if any. District Election Officer-cum-DC Kamal Kishor Yadav said: “The matter has come to our notice and we are probing it.”

Removal of defacement

The Deputy Commissioner also specified that a time frame had been fixed for removal of various defacement. While the 24-hour period for removing hoardings and signages promoting any political party from government buildings was over this afternoon, the time frame for removing defacement from public places, including roundabouts and flyover walls, will be over on Friday afternoon. He said all private buildings would be cleared of violations within 72 hours since the imposition of the poll code.