Pull down political hoardings: DC

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 8

As the Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the schedule for Assembly poll, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Ghanshyam Thori directed all enforcement agencies to ensure strict compliance of model code of conduct (MCC).

He also asserted that strict action would be initiated in case of any violation of MCC in the district as per the guidelines of ECI.

The DC also asked the officers of government departments to take down the images of political leaders etc from their websites/web pages immediately besides removing all political posters and hoarding from the public properties. Similarly, he also instructed the Municipal Corporation, ADC (Urban Development) and other concerned authorities to ensure prevention of defacement of property by strict compliance of instructions with time bound action. He said that government property includes government premises, any government office and the campus wherein the office building is situated.

In these building all wall writings/posters of defacement on any other form cutout/hoardings etc. and in public space like railway station, bus stand, airport, railway bridges, buses, poles, shall be removed within 48 hours within the MCC’s announcement, he added. Likewise, all unauthorised political hoardings at private property and subject to local law shall be removed within 72 hours.

78.84 per cent licenced arms deposited

The DC in a video conferencing with Punjab Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju said in Jalandhar nearly 78.84 per cent licensed arms had already been deposited in the district. He said that 1,163 micro observers would be deputed at all 1974 polling stations in the district.

Teams formed in Nawanshahr

Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Vishesh Sarangal on Saturday said the district administration would ensure strict enforcement of the model code of conduct (MCC) to ensure free, fair, transparent and peaceful polls during the assembly elections. He said we would ensure the prohibitions and limitations imposed by the ECI in wake of Covid-19 protocols.

The DC said any sort of violation of the MCC would invite stern action by the administration. He said the administration has constituted several committees at the district level as well as assembly constituency level and disclosed that media certification and monitoring committee, vehicle management teams, expenditure monitoring committee, model code of conduct teams, video viewing teams and accounting teams, flying squad teams, static surveillance teams, video viewing teams, accounting teams and others to ensure strict implementation of the model code of conduct.

He said the people can also lodge their complaints regarding the violation of the Model Code of Conduct through 1,950 toll free number. He said that the Election Commission of India has introduced cVigil app for effective implementation of the MCC as per which every election related complaint within 100 minutes.

The District Election Officer said through this app prompt action would be taken against every complaint regarding the violation of the code. He said that any individual can load video clip or picture regarding the violation of code.

The District Election Officer further said that notification of election would be issued on January 21, nomination can be filed for the three assembly constituencies of Banga, Nawanshahr and Balachaur in district at the respective SDMs offices till January 28, scrutiny of nomination papers would be held on January 29 and withdrawal of nomination till January 31 and voting would be held on February 14. He said that the counting of the votes would be done on March 10.

He directed the officials to immediately remove all political hoardings/posters/banners from roads, electricity, telephone poles, trees, government buildings and other places and also fixed deadline of 48 hours for removal of political slogans or pictures on local level official websites.

He ordered them to set up nakas to ensure check on illicit liquor, drugs and money, to lure the voters.