Ensure ballots kept under tight vigil, SEC tells DCs

The Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Electoral Officers will be responsible to ensure official ballot papers were kept under tight security and shall not allow any external or duplicate ballot papers to be used. The directions were issued by the State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhuri on Monday.

The missive from the SEC came after Congress MLA from Dina Nagar Aruna Chaudhary flagged a news report in The Tribune on fake ballot papers. She had highlighted a statement by former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, who on Thursday had expressed apprehensions of poll rigging while alleging that that ruling AAP was “getting fake ballot papers printed” from Ambala for upcoming rural body polls.

“The BLOs may get these stamped in advance and put in ballot boxes at the time of polling,” he had alleged. He had further said the ruling party had been involved in foul play from the beginning. They tore or even snatched nomination papers of candidates. They got papers of Opposition candidates rejected.”

Reacting to it, the ruling party had rejected the charge, terming it “baseless”. The SEC has directed the DCs to ensure that that there was no misuse of ballot papers and these were kept in safe custody.

Meanwhile, the SEC has appointed IAS/senior PCS officers as “Election Observers” in all districts, who will be present in their respective districts from today till the completion of the election process (till the results are declared). Besides, the commission has appointed six senior IPS officers as “Police Observers” to monitor the law and order situation during the elections.